A Christmas market [ a ] is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. Christmas markets date to the Late Middle Ages in the German-speaking part of Europe and in many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire , which included many eastern regions of modern France.
In many towns in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Christmas market or Weihnachtsmarkt. In southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria, it is called a Christkind e l s i markt German language, literally meaning "Christ child market".
Traditionally held in the town square, the market offers food, drinks and seasonal items for sale from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing. On opening night at the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg , and in some other towns, onlookers welcome the Christkind originally boy Jesus , but often depicted as an angel-like girl , acted by a local child. The first traces of Christmas markets in the German-speaking part of Europe and in many parts of the former Holy Roman Empire go back to late medieval sales fairs and—often one-day—markets, which gave citizens the opportunity to stock up on meat and winter necessities at the beginning of the cold season.
In the 14th century, the custom arose of allowing craftsmen such as toy makers, basket weavers and confectioners to set up stalls under the name " Saint Nicholas market" to sell the little things that children received as Christmas gifts. There were also stands selling roasted chestnuts, nuts and almonds. In , King Wenceslas granted the town of Bautzen the right to hold a free meat market on Saturdays from St.
Michael's Day 29 September until Christmas. Over time, the tradition spread throughout the German-speaking world. The first document reporting a Christmas market is dated during the reign of Frederick II of Saxony , mentioning a Striezelmarkt , which took place in Dresden on the Monday before Christmas.
