Christkindl Market History
A German Tradition: The Christkindl Markets
"Berliner Weihnachtsmarkt" by Franz Skarbina
Christmas markets have been part of this festive time for centuries in Germany. During Advent, which runs approximately from our Thanksgiving holiday through Christmas Eve, rustic timber booths draped with fragrant evergreen boughs, line the town squares in Germany. These markets were usually held in front of churches and were looked at as part of a church visit. The oldest recorded market dates to 1310 in Munich, Germany. It was called "Nikolausdult" and was very different from the markets of today. Held in front of churches at the time, these early markets were often considered as part of a church visit as well as an opportunity for farmers to come to town, do some shopping and at the same time, offer their wares.
The reformation of the church in the 16th century brought changes to the Nichloas markets. At that time, Martin Luther asserted that since the protestant church did not worship saints, it was the Christ Child who brought gifts for the children and servants. As a result the date also as moved from St. Nicholas’ birthday (December 6) to December 25 which became Christmas.
From this abstraction begun initially in Thuringia, and then in other places, the angelic baby Jesus represented as an angel, evolved into a female image as is presently seen at Christkindl Markets.
This custom began in the Protestant areas of Bavaria with Nuremberg being the first city to call its market "Christkindlesmarkt." Munich, a Catholic city, changed its "Nikolausdult" to "Christkindlmarkt" in 1805. Now mostly held in town squares throughout Germany and many other cities throughout the world, Christkindl markets sell food, drink and seasonal items from open-air stalls. Entertainment includes traditional singing and dancing.
Nuremberg's Christmas Market is one of Germany's oldest Christmas fairs and certainly the one best known around the world. The pre-Christmas event on Nuremberg's Main Market Square dates back to the mid 16th century. The first mention in writing is from 1628. The following inscription in black ink was found at the bottom of an oval, 19-centimeter-long (7.5 inches) spruce bentwood box decorated with flowers – now in the possession of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum: "Sent to Regina Susanna Harßdörfferin by Miss Susanna Eleonora Erbsin (or Elbsin) on the occasion of the Christmas Market of 1628".
19th Century Christkindlesmarkt in Nürnberg.
In the 18th century the market was already rather large. A list from 1737 reveals that almost all Nuremberg craftsmen were represented at the market. Over 140 persons were entitled to offer their goods for sale at that time; today about 180 vendors offer their wares.
