Of Europe's many festive traditions, perhaps none is
more beloved than the annual Christmas markets.
Replete with cozy stalls selling all manner of
handmade crafts by local artisans, delicious regional
treats and authentic holiday accoutrement, each of
these charming markets boasts its own heritage and
character. With a history dating back centuries, this
treasured custom has more than stood the test of time.
Though forerunners of today's Christmas
markets began in Europe during the Middle Ages,
the world's oldest genuine Christmas market is
Dresden's own Stri ezelmarkt, which was first held
for one day only on December 23, 1434. This initial
iteration of the Striezelmarkt was a meat market,
held so that the people of Dresden would have a
selection of fresh meat from which to choose for the
upcoming yuletide festivities. This endeavor proved
so successful that it became an annual tradition,
and the offerings supplemented the following year
with various other goods. Beginning in the early
1500s, the duration of the market was expanded
from a single day to encompass the Monday before
Christmas through December 24. While the location
of the Striezelmarkt has changed many times over
the centuries, today it is held in same place as the
original 1434 meat market: Dresden's Altmarkt
square, the city's oldest.
While Christmas markets had begun to spring
up in the years following the introduction of the
Striezelmarkt, the 16th century is when they truly
began to proliferate across the continent. In addition
to celebrating the festive season and providing a
vehicle through which local vendors could sell their
wares, they offered busy townspeople a way to
procure everything they needed for Christmas in
one convenient location. Today, Europe's Christmas
markets are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.
Perhaps take a moment to marvel at their long
history as you explore the land in which many of our
most cherished Christmas traditions began.
Above: Traditional
decorations
found at German
Christmas
markets including
nutcrackers,
ornaments, and
woven wood
reindeer
History of
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
World famous Europe's Christmas markets are loved by locals and tourists alike,
spreading cheer throughout the festive seasons for centuries
ELBE
GERMANY
Prague
CZECH REPUBLIC
VLTAVA
Děčín
Berlin
Potsdam
Wittenberg
Torgau
Dresden
Meissen
Bad Schandau
POLAND
C r ui s e
M o to r C o ach
O ve r night in Po r t
Warsaw
Kraków
GETTING THERE: The 10-day Christmas
Along the Elbe voyage sails from Berlin
to Prague or vice versa.
From $$5,795pp in Standard stateroom
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