Christmas market Facts for Kids

A Christmas market is a fun street market that celebrates Christmas during the four weeks leading up to it, called Advent. These markets started in Germany a long time ago, in the Late Middle Ages, but now you can find them in many countries around the world!

The very first true Christmas market was the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, Germany, which began in 1434. Before that, there were "December markets" mentioned in places like Vienna (1298), Munich (1310), and Frankfurt (1393).

In many towns in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, the Christmas market opens to welcome the Advent season. These markets are usually held in the town square. They offer lots of yummy food, drinks, and special items for sale from open-air stalls. You can also enjoy traditional singing and dancing! In some towns, like Nuremberg, a local child acts as the "Christkind" (which means "Christ Child" but is often like an angel-like spirit of Christmas) to open the market.

Fun Things to See and Eat
Famous Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets Around the World
Images for kids
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Fun Things to See and Eat

Christmas markets are full of exciting things! You can see a Nativity scene (a display of the Christmas story) and unique figures made of dried plums called Zwetschgenmännle. You might also find carved Nutcrackers and delicious Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds).

For treats, there are traditional Christmas cookies like Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both kinds of soft gingerbread). You can also try Bratwurst (a type of sausage) and Glühwein, which is a warm, spiced drink. These warm drinks are perfect for staying cozy in the cold winter air! Other tasty foods include Christstollen (a bread with candied fruit) and Frankfurter Bethmännchen (a type of pastry).

Famous Christmas Markets

The opening ceremony of the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt.

A Christmas market in Riga, Latvia.

Many cities in Germany have famous Christmas markets that attract lots of visitors. Some of these include Augsburg, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart. The markets in Nuremberg and Dresden welcome about two million people every year! Stuttgart and Frankfurt markets attract even more, with over three million visitors.

The Christmas market in Dortmund is huge, with more than three and a half million visitors and 300 stalls around a giant Christmas tree that is 45 meters (about 148 feet) tall! Cologne's market is also very popular, drawing four million people. In Berlin, there are more than 70 different Christmas markets that open in late November.

Christmas markets are also a big tradition in Austria, especially in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Linz, and Graz. Vienna held its first "December Market" way back in 1298. Today, Vienna has about 20 different Christmas markets! The biggest and most famous is the Vienna Christmas World on Rathausplatz, near the city hall. It attracts three million people each year and has 150 unique stalls selling Austrian foods, decorations, and crafts. This market also has an "Adventzauber" theme park with workshops and performances for families and kids. You can even go ice skating on a large ice rink!

Other popular markets in Vienna include the one at Schönbrunn Palace and the Art Advent on Karlsplatz, which has artisan goods, a children's program, and a petting zoo. At these markets, you can try Kinderpunsch (a non-alcoholic punch), Baumstriezel (a Hungarian pastry), Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Lángos (savory fried dough), Schaumkuss (chocolate-covered marshmallows), and roasted chestnuts called Maroni.

Christmas Markets Around the World

Christmas markets are also traditional in Alsace, France. Strasbourg, for example, has had its "Christkindelsmärik" around its cathedral since 1570!

Other countries have started their own Christmas markets too. In Barcelona, Spain, the Fira de Santa Llúcia market begins on December 13, Saint Lucy's Day, and has been held since 1786.

In England, Lincoln started an annual Christmas market in 1982. It's one of the largest in the United Kingdom, with over 300 stalls and more than 100,000 visitors! Since 1997, "Frankfurt Christmas Markets" have been set up in cities like Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester. These markets have become very popular, bringing many visitors to towns and cities.

Birmingham's Christmas Market is known as the "largest outdoor Christmas market in the UK" and the "largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria." It has live entertainment and runs for about six weeks each year. Manchester's Christmas Markets are also very successful, with 300 stalls spread across eight city locations, each with a different theme!

German immigrants also brought Christmas market traditions to the United States, where they are now celebrated in cities like Chicago, Denver, and Tulsa. A traditional Christmas market was also held for the first time in Sibiu, Romania, in 2007.