Christmas markets are a widespread tradition throughout the cultures of Europe. However, they originated in Germany. Christmas markets in Germany are among some of the most beautiful and numerous in the world! In Christmas markets, the community comes together to get cozy and warm even in the dark winter nights. What better excuse is there to be out in the cold than lots of friends and family eating comfort food like hot chocolate and hot pretzels? Many of the Christmas traditions you know came from Germany, including the Christmas tree and lighting candles.
I visited two Christmas markets. The first was in Berlin, and the other was the oldest Christmas market in Germany, the Dresden Striezelmarkt, which first opened in 1434! I was amazed at the sheer size of the markets, and how many people are at each one. Sometimes there’s barely enough room to walk, but the atmosphere of the twinkling lights, spiced foods, and wooden huts make up for the crowds.
In the market, there’s lots of stalls and decorations: cookie-cut cabins, bonfires, and trees. The star of the show is the Erzgebirge Pyramid. This is a giant tower, that spins! Often it is decorated with nativity scenes and other Christmas-y details. Erzgebirge is a region of Germany known for its woodworking, which sits along the Ore mountains.
