Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

A long tradition but not a bit old fashioned

Where does this come from? One aspect is surely the long tradition of the Christkindlesmarkt. The oldest proof of existence of a Nuremberg Christmas Market is a painted bentwood box bearing the inscription on its base: "Regina Susanna Harßdörferin ... zum Kindles-Markt überschickt 1628" (Regina Susanna Harßdörferin ... given for the Kindles-Markt 1628). One can assume that the tradition of a "Kindles-Markt" in Nuremberg begins before 1628.

After several relocations between 1898 and 1930, the Christkindlesmarkt returned to Nuremberg's main market square in 1933. In the glow of the new electrical street lights, the market was opened on December 4, 1933 in a festive ceremony by a woman dressed as an angel - a new tradition was born.

During the war, however, the Christmas market did not take place. It was not until 1948 that the Christmas market was held again in an almost completely destroyed Old Town. The opening ceremony remained almost unchanged after the Second World War - only the chief dramaturge of the city's theaters, Friedrich Bröger, wrote a new prologue (the words spoken by the Nuremberg Christkind at the opening of the market).

In 1948, the symbolic figure of the "Nuremberg Christkind" recited the opening prologue. The Nuremberg actress Sofie Keeser had the honor of playing the role of the Christkind until the beginning of the 1960s. The second Christkind, Irene Brunner, was also an actress and performed until 1969. Since then, the Christkind is chosen every two years through a multi-step process with participation of the general public.

If you want to know more details about the Nuremberg Christkind, then take a look at "The Nuremberg Christkind and its Story"

In 1973, due to a sharp rise in the number of visitors, the opening of the Christkindlesmarkt was changed from the traditional St. Barbara's Day, December 4, to the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent. That year was the first time the record mark of more than one million guests was broken.

The Sister Cities Market has brought an international flair to Christmas City Nuremberg since 1984. Since the 1990s, the market has drawn more than two million visitors each year. The Nuremberg Children's Christmas Market at Hans-Sachs-Platz as well as the "Sternenhaus" have been an important part of pre-Christmas festivities in Nuremberg since 1999 and a highlight for children and families.

In 2020, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt had to be cancelled because of the worldwide Corona pandemic - the first time since 1948! In 2021, it was also cancelled due to Covid. And today?

More than 160 wooden booths with red-and-white cloth roofs, lovingly decorated and filled by market merchants, stand again in Advent on the Main Market Square. Here you'll find traders who are leading their family-owned companies in the third generation and make the market what it is: Something very special!