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Think Christmas markets and chances are your imagination will conjure up snow-laden market squares somewhere in Europe that twinkle with lights, smell of hot chocolate and warm cakes, and are festooned with pine trees. Dresden’s Striezelmarkt certainly fits that bill. It was one of the first genuine Christmas markets in the world and continues to be a beloved destination for locals and visitors today.
Here’s your guide to the history and experiences available at the Striezelmarkt.
Situated in the capital city of Saxony state, Striezelmarkt was founded as a one-day market in 1434 under the reign of Friedrich II, the Elector of Saxony, with the aim of selling meat for a Christmas meal after the traditional Advent period of fasting. The origins of the word “Striezelmarkt” come from strüzel or stroczel, a type of cake sold at the market; it is now widely known as Stollen or Christstollen. This is a light, airy fruitcake that is low in sugar. The true Dresden Stollen, however, is produced in the city and distinguished by a special seal depicting Augustus II, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland in the 17th and 18th centuries. The shape of the cake is meant to be reminiscent of the entrance to a mine tunnel (the literal meaning of Stollen), reflecting the area's silver and tin mining history.
Today, this centuries-old Christmas market—the oldest and most famous of its kind in Germany—is believed to attract an estimated 2.5 million people from all over the world. Since its inception, the market has preserved its distinctive character despite a few changes. The world’s largest Erzgebirge step pyramid, which made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999, is 14.62 metres tall and can be seen from far and wide. In 2024, the 590th edition of the Striezelmarkt will take place from November 27 to December 24 at the Altmarkt Square.
On November 22 at 4:45PM, Dresdeners and guests will converge at Altmarkt Square to see the Striezelmarkt fir tree and other traditional elements during the first lighting test. The 25-metre-high Nordmann fir from Freital is the centrepiece of the Christmas market. It is decorated with a 2,900-metre-long string of lights, 16,200 sparkling LEDs and a XXL Herrnhut Star at the top.
On the opening day of the Striezelmarkt, there will be an ecumenical church service and opening ceremony with the Dresdner Kreuzchor (boys’ choir) and the Dresdner Kapellknaben (another boys’ choir) at the Lutheran church of Kreuzkirche (3PM); a cultural performance on the Striezelmarkt stage at 4PM; and the official start of business from 4:30PM to 9PM.
The Striezelmarkt always has a Ferris wheel ready to go for visitors. A ride on it is a bit like travelling back in time, where you can look happily over the glittering huts of the market with candy floss in your hand, the smell of roasted almonds in your nose and a barrel organ playing softly from somewhere. In addition to this, there will be a small carousel, a fairytale tower and a forest with a children’s railway. Kids can listen to festive stories at the Fairytale House, too.
The Schwibbogen candle holder represents the arched entrance to a mine hung with guiding lights; it is another connection to the area's mining past. Today, these are often lit with electricity. At night during Advent, nearly every single window in Dresden is lit with these gorgeous ornaments.
Another ornament always present at Christmas time in Germany is the Räuchermann. This smoking man is hollowed out with a hole leading to his mouth, hung with a pipe. An incense candle is placed inside him so that he appears to smoke as it burns. Variations of the smoking man include old ladies in rocking chairs, Father Christmases and figures representing nearly every occupation.
The Striezelmarkt nutcrackers are another beloved festive item you should consider purchasing. They are carved and painted with a red coat like a soldier, and their workmanship is exquisite. Also, check out the wooden ornaments which come in various shapes and sizes.
Besides the Christstollen, which you can see being made live at the Showroom Bakery, eat pflaumentoffel, which means “plum devil.” These are little decorative figures that look like chimney sweeps, all dressed in black (the prunes) with a top hat and a brush. Until the 20th century, pflaumentoffel were sold at the Striezelmarkt on trays carried by children trying to earn some Christmas money.
Buy a plate of Pulsnitzer pfefferkuchen (Pulsnitz gingerbread), which literally means “pepper cake.” The gingerbread sold at the Striezelmarkt comes from Pulsnitz, a town about 33 kilometres from Dresden. Pfefferkuchen are usually filled with marmalade or jam and covered with chocolate. Unlike gingerbread from other countries, the dough does not usually contain any fat or ginger; instead, nutmeg, cinnamon, ground cloves and allspice are added after the dough has been left for up to six months to mature.
Wash it down with a steaming mug of glühwein (mulled wine). The hot red wine is spiced with cloves and cinnamon and served in specially decorated mugs.
The Christmas market on the Prager Straße invites visitors to stroll on Dresden's best-known shopping mile. Known as the “Winterlights of Dresden” since 2012, the market features numerous regional specialties from Dresden and its surroundings. The 15-metre-high Christmas tree is pretty to look at, and the winter lights enchant children as well as adults. Santa Claus’s residence can be found here, along with two rustic merry-go-rounds for children.
Traditional products like pottery, glassware and lace from the Vogtland region are sold on Münzgasse Street in Dresden. The eight-metre-tall climbable pyramid, covered in handmade wooden figurines, is the main attraction here. The nearby “Advent at the Neumarkt” features crafts that have been produced by historical guilds around the Neumarkt area for the last 100 years, including by bell founders, document painters, engravers, clock operators, as well as dealers of historical and hand-manufactured toys.
The Stallhof Advent Festival is held within the walls of the Dresden Royal Palace. Guild craftspeople present their goods in a historic and traditional atmosphere, with jugglers providing plenty of entertainment. In addition to the unusual culinary delicacies offered every year, the public bathhouse is also very popular. It has two gigantic wooden washtubs in which up to eight people each can enjoy a hot bath.
From November 29 to December 31, the Postplatz in Dresden will transform into the enchanting Finnish Christmas Village. Visitors can enjoy traditional handicrafts, original Finnish specialities and unique Finnish Christmas gifts here.
