Linz Christmas markets
The Linz Christkindlmarkt is a Christmas market in Linz . This has been held in the pre-Christmas period since 1894 in the current form, although this has existed in a similar form since the Middle Ages, but at that time it was more of a kind of market for food for the Christmas holidays.
In addition to several smaller markets, there are two large Christmas markets in Linz, the Christmas market on Linz's main square and the Christmas market in the Volksgarten.
Appearance of the Christmas markets
All Christmas markets in Linz - as in other cities - are characterized by stands that offer Christmas baked goods, regional specialties, various sweets, toys, Christmas tree decorations and small gifts. The offer is complemented by food and drink stands offering hot dishes, roasted almonds and other nut mixes as well as mulled wine, mulled cider and punch.
history
History until 1938
In principle, the idea of organizing Christmas markets goes back to late medieval sales fairs. These often one-day markets gave citizens the last chance to stock up on food before winter at the start of the cold season. However, from the beginning of the 20th century, markets became an element of Christmas customs. Most of the time, the Christmas markets begin around the first Advent and close again for Christmas. The first Linz Christmas market took place on December 23rd and 24th, 1894. These were held until the beginning of the First World War . After the difficult years after the First World War, the tradition of these Christmas markets began again, and now there was also a Santa Claus market, which was held on December 5th and 6th. Both had to give way to traffic on the main square in 1938.
Post-war history
After the end of the Völkerring in 1946, both the Christmas and St. Nicholas markets were held in a modest setting on Blumauerplatz, from 1949 on the Marktplatz (old town) and from 1952 on Hesse and Bernascheckplatz. In a meeting on November 17, 1952, the Linz city council fixed the duration of the two markets: Nikolausmarkt 3. – 10. December, Christmas market from December 11th to January 1st.
In 1956 the market moved to the Volksgarten (Linz) , where it is still held today. A committee made up of the exhibition association, market and food police, the adult education center and representatives of the gardening authority - who were concerned that the park could be damaged - developed the market. The market is held in its current form to this day and is the most important periodic market in Linz after the Urfahraner market .
Christmas market in Linz's Volksgarten
history
The Christmas market in the Volksgarten Linz was opened on December 3, 1956, despite concerns that the park would be too badly affected. The market, which at the beginning was provided with only a few illuminated trees and occasional fairy tale groups to be viewed, has meanwhile developed into a sea of lights from the Blumau to the Danube. The heavy rush of visitors caused the highway to be blocked by the police on numerous weekends during opening hours. A highlight of the Christmas market is a wooden crib with life-size figures, which, with a roof of almost 60 m², offers the opportunity to look at the figures even in rain and bad weather. Since 2005, there have been repeated activities at schools in which works of art and Christmas tree decorations are made in handicraft lessons. These are finally exhibited by the students in the Volksgarten from the beginning of the Christmas market.
particularities
The main focus of this Christmas market is on children, it has the motto Fairy Tale Christmas, which is why it is popularly known as the "Fairy Tale Forest". Various fairy tales are shown in small wooden huts. The figures are driven by electric motors. The following fairy tales are exhibited in the Volksgarten. In the course of a general renovation, these were completely overhauled and technically adapted in 2018.
| fairy tale |
|---|
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs |
| Set the table |
| Mother Hulda |
| Hansel and Gretel |
| Cinderella |
| Rumpelstiltskin |
Another special feature is the continuation of an old tradition: the Christmas market in the Volksgarten was among other things a textile market at the beginning, this tradition is still taken into account today and there are numerous textile goods stalls on the area of the Christmas market, even if there are Time the consumer orientation of the visitors moved more towards gastronomy.
Ice Magic Linz
14 international artists model works of art from 150,000 kg of ice, which are exhibited in the Linz Volksgarten during the run-up to Christmas. Blocks of ice are transformed into sculptures with chainsaws, milling cutters and chisels and completed with suitable light and music. The ice bar and the ice slide in 2018 are considered special highlights of the exhibition. There will be another exhibition in 2019.
Christmas market on the main square
history
In 1980 the Mayor of Linz, Franz Hillinger , commissioned the market office to make the main square , which was redesigned in 1979, more attractive with a Christmas market. As early as 1979 there was a small market, organized by 10 merchants, with which it was tested how such a market would basically be received by the population. The focus on art is also reflected in the fact that three painters were among the founding members and are still represented today. After initial teething problems, it was able to establish itself next to the Christmas market that had existed in the Volksgarten. In 1990 the market took place in front of the New Town Hall in Urfahr , as construction work was taking place on the main square. One year later, in 1991, the market took place again on the main square. A redesign has been considered since that day, but these changes dragged on. After an unsuccessful attempt, modernization began in 1998 under the protection of then mayor Franz Dobusch and city councilor Peter Sonnberger. The octagonal huts made of wood, which are still in existence today, are held in place by tubular stainless steel cages, with flat roofs and decorative pyramids, were constructed by Oberaigner. First the company built a prototype and presented it in the courtyard of the old town hall. After a few modifications, 70 of these huts were built within seven months. The Christkindlmarkt on the main square is a market that is aimed at adults and especially art lovers. Artists and artisans offer a large selection of self-made Christmas tree decorations, pottery and glassware, costume jewelry, in the traditional filigree manner through to Italian glassworks. In the course of the modification in 2003, octagonal huts were erected, each of which has a hand-painted picture above the garlands of lights, depicting interesting motifs of the city of Linz. These pictures were painted by the Linz painter Kurt Panzenberger .
particularities
One of the hallmarks of the Christmas market on Linz's main square is the large Christmas tree that is set up there every year. This tree is sponsored and set up every year by a different local community in Upper Austria as the Linz Christmas tree.
Due to the special shape of the huts, there are no unsightly back walls on this market; the stands are accessible from all sides. So there is also less crowding.
Another special feature was the nativity scene, which was exhibited at the Christmas market in Linz's main square in 1972. It is a nativity scene, which the city of Linz has as a motif.
Handicrafts
The Linz Christkindlmarkt is known as a market for handicrafts and artists. Not only art painting, but also pottery and glass art can be found here, as well as jewelry and candle studios.
Events
On many days there are various activities for visitors at both markets. In addition to musical performances, there is also a Perchten run and, traditionally, St. Nicholas comes on December 6th. The current dates can be found on the homepage of the Linz Christmas markets.
Web links
- http://www.linzer-weihnachtsmaerkte.at
- https://www.christkindlmarkt-linz.at/
- http://www.linz.at/presse/2012/201211_66003.asp
- http://www.linz.at/presse/archiv/001122.htm#1
literature
- Manfred Stepany: Linz active - Christmas markets in Linz. Gutenberg Verlag (1977), pp. 44-47.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ice Magic - ice sculpture exhibition in Linz. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .
Coordinates: 48 ° 18 ′ 21 ″ N , 14 ° 17 ′ 11 ″ E