Striezelmarkt

The Striezelmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. He is held regularly since 1434 in the season of Advent in the Old Market Square in Dresden. From November 27 to December 24, 2013 the 579th Striezelmarkt took place. The Striezelmarkt is completed for some years by the undertaking in the immediate vicinity, but not belonging to the actual market Christmas markets on Prager Strasse, the main street as well as from the north adjacent Christmas markets " Advent on the Neumarkt " in front of the Frauenkirche and the medieval Christmas market in the Royal Mews.

The name of the Striezelmarkt derived from the Dresdner Stollen, which is called in the Middle High German Strutzel or Striezel. The Striezelmarkt today attracts annually to approximately 2.5 million domestic and foreign visitors.

History

The Striezelmarkt goes back to a privilege that issued the Saxon Elector Frederick II on 19 October 1434. Originally it was a one-day meat market, where the inhabitants according to the pre-Christmas fast days were able to select their Christmas roast. Later, other sale goods were added. The Christ bread called Striezel or studs, gave on Monday held before Christmas market around 1500 the name Striezelmontag.

In the 16th century the growing demand attracted more and more craftsmen and traders from neighboring towns, from the Ore Mountains, Upper Lusatia and even from Bohemia. After 1700, the market period has been extended. With the temporal extension of the Striezelmarkt soon became one next to the Nuremberg Christmas Market and the Frankfurt Christkindchesmarkt the most important German Christmas markets. In parallel, the offer was expanded significantly. In addition to pottery certain from the second half of the 18th century increasingly Spielzeugausladen with turned and carved " dolls work" the image of the market.

Presence

Since 2004, the Striezelmarkt starts with an ecumenical service in the adjacent Cross Church, which is set to music by the Dresden Kreuz Choir and Dresdner Kapellknaben.

For several years, opens the "Santa Claus " every day for the children of a door in the advent calendar, behind which there are images. The highlight of the market is celebrated on the Saturday before the 2nd Advent since 1994, the Dresden Stollen Festival, for which a giant stollen is baked. This is then cut in a ceremony at the Striezelmarkt. The proceeds will go to charity.

In the middle of the square is the world's largest erzgebirgische step pyramid with 14.62 meters. It was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records 1999. Gateway to Striezelmarkt forms the largest walk erzgebirgische candle arch in the world. It is 13.5 meters wide and more than five feet high.

On the market is offered under other wood carving from the Ore Mountains ( Erzgebirge folk art ). Similarly, one can buy Pulsnitzer cake, Stollen and Pflaumentoffel. The latter are small males from prunes, which were first mentioned in 1801. The mascot is the small, often only seven years old Schlotfeger boy with cape and head modeled that climbed with her broom in the fireplaces, and clean it from the inside.

Special

The running count of the regularly since 1434 in the season of Advent in the Old Market Square in Dresden organized Striezelmarkt lacks one year. What exactly was, however, is not known.