Christmas Market

A Christmas market, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. These markets originated in Germany but are now being held in many other countries. The history of Christmas markets goes back to 1434. The Christmas markets of Bautzen, Frankfurt and Munich were even older. The Vienna "December market" was a kind of forerunner of the Christmas market and dates back to 1294

In southern Germany and Austria it is sometimes called a "Christkindlmarkt" (German languaje literally meaning "Christ child market"). Generally held in the town square and adjacent pedestrian zones, the market sells food, drink, and seasonal items from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing. On opening nights (and in some towns more often) onlookers welcome the ‘Christkind’, or boy Jesus, acted out by a local child.

Popular attractions at the market include the Nativity Scene, Zwetschgenmännle (figures made of decorated dried plums),Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers), Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds), traditional Christmas cookies such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot(both forms of soft gingerbread) . Many other handmade items, toys, books, Christmas tree decorations and ornaments (and in recent years less useful gadgets) can be found at a Christmas Market.