Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

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The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt on the main market (2008)

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is a Christmas market and takes place annually in Advent in the old town of Nuremberg on the main market and the adjacent streets and squares. With over two million visitors, it is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany and one of the most famous in the world. It begins on the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent and always ends on December 24th .

history

Access from the meat bridge (2014)

Origin and first development

The origins of the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt are - despite intensive research by various historians and regional researchers - not known. The oldest evidence of the market, however, is a box made of softwood , on the bottom of which is the following inscription: "Regina Susanna Harßdörfferin sent by the virgin Susanna Eleonora Erbsin [or Elbsin] to Kindles-Marck 1628". The box is currently in the possession of the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg. The Nuremberg historian and city archivist Horst-Dieter Beyerstedt refers to a "Ratsverlaß" in 1610, in which the "confiscation of indecent articles" was ordered. Here, for the first time, there is talk of a "little gift for a child", and in further abandons also of " Christmas time ". However, it is unclear whether this is related to the Christkindlesmarkt.

Historians assume that the market developed from traditional sales on the weekly market from then until 1639 and slowly became an independent market. Beyerstedt sees the basis in the donation practice changed by the reformer Martin Luther , which postponed the giving of presents from St. Nicholas Day to Christmas Eve . This custom also caught on in Protestant Nuremberg. The name "Christkendleinsmarck" is documented by a town history from 1697 at the latest.

From the year 1737 a list has come down that shows that almost all Nuremberg craftsmen, namely 140 people, were entitled to offer their goods on the market.

19th century to the end of the Second World War

Christmas market in the 19th century ( lithography )

Since the market lost more and more importance at the end of the 19th century , it changed location several times before a revival was decided in the 1930s. Under the National Socialist regime , the Christkindlesmarkt was used due to its long tradition to consolidate the image of Nuremberg as “the treasure chest of the German Empire” and to fill the annual festival calendar. In 1933 the market on the main market - at that time Adolf-Hitler-Platz - was reopened with a "transfigured romantic celebration". The opening program consisted of an actress disguised as a Christ Child, accompanied by two Rauschgoldenangels, reciting an introduction. The opening poem of December 4, 1933 contained “the völkisch pathos of the time”: ““ At this noble place, which Germany's leaders consecrated, and where Nuremberg citizens rejoiced as children from the beginning. . . "" And "" Germany will be happy with this Christmas faith. "" A children's choir sang for this . Church bells rounded off the event.

During the Second World War (1939 to 1945) the Christkindlesmarkt was not held because Nuremberg was supposed to be unlit in the dark for fear of air raids . In the war years up to 1942, however, a replacement market was set up on Hans-Sachs-Platz with the so-called Christmas goods market.

Post-war until today

Stand at the Christkindlesmarkt (2009)

In 1948 the Christkindlesmarkt was held for the first time since the beginning of the Second World War.

The market originally opened on St. Barbara's Day , December 4th. Due to the large number of visitors, the opening day was moved to the Friday before the first Advent in 1973, on which the prologue is now accompanied by music from the city of Nuremberg's wind players and the young Nuremberg Choir together with school choirs from the city.

Today the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is one of the most popular and largest Christmas markets in Germany with over 2 million visitors annually. With over 7,000 overnight stays, the Japanese represent the largest group of foreign tourists in the run-up to Christmas.

offer

About 200 dealers offer goods that are mainly in the tradition of Nuremberg. Examples of this are the Nuremberg gingerbread , fruit bread and typical Christmas tree decorations , such as Rauschgoldengel . The " Nürnberger Zwetschgenmännla ", figures made of dried plums, are u. a. With the Franconian saying “Willsd an, der di ned ärchern ko, nou kaffsder hald an Zwedschgermoo” (High German, for example: “If you want someone who can't annoy you, then buy a plum man”). Applied.

Nuremberg grilled sausages and mulled wine are available to help you regain strength during the market stroll . Employees of the market office control the design of the stalls and the range of goods. For example, the use of plastic fir garlands is prohibited. Since 1981, the city of Nuremberg has awarded the “Zwedschgermoo” in gold, silver and bronze to the stalls that are most appealing in terms of design and range.

Places and scope

"Little town made of wood and cloth" (2011)

location

For a long time the Christkindlesmarkt took place at the Nuremberg main market. From 1898 to 1917 he moved to the island of Schütt , then to the Fleischbrücke . In 1933 the market returned to its original location.

The current Christkindlesmarkt includes around 180 wooden stalls, which are traditionally decorated with red and white striped fabric. Therefore the nickname of the market as “little town made of wood and cloth” is derived from the prologue (see below).

Christmas crib

In the center of the market there is an open, pentagonal pavilion-like nativity scene building , inside of which the Christmas story is traced. The crib building is made of hand-cut wooden beams and covered with a thatched roof. A shining star is emblazoned on the roof. About 30 figures made of turned wood and movable limbs, approx. 50 centimeters in size and - with the exception of a few figures - in Franconian costume, reproduce the Christmas story. About 15 animals, including sheep, camels, ox and donkey, complete the nativity scene. The construction of the crib goes back to the suggestion of the City Building Director Paul Seegy in 1934. Sculptor Max Renner and the graphic artist, painter and ceramicist Bertl Kuch were entrusted with the artistic implementation. In 1935 the crib was first set up on the market. The figures survived the war relatively unscathed and were restored by Renner and Kuch in 1948.

Sister City Market

Since 1998 there has also been a market for the twin cities on Rathausplatz . There are stalls that sell various specialties and other products from the respective countries of the partner cities and the city ​​friendships of Nuremberg .

The booths of the partner cities come from the following cities or regions:

Furthermore, stands from friendly municipalities are involved:

Children's Christmas

Access to children's Christmas (2014)

Not far away from the main market, on Hans-Sachs-Platz , the Nuremberg Children's Christmas, a child-friendly addition to the Christkindlesmarkt, has been held since 1999. A crib path, which presents cribs from different eras, connects the Christkindlesmarkt on the main market with the market for children. Here children can take part - including several free ones - such as drawing candles, a handicraft shop, glass workshop or baking cookies. A carousel is also available, as is Santa Claus, who is available for photos and children's wishes. In the nearby star house, theater, music and magic are offered for children from 4 years of age.

Nuremberg Christ Child

History and background

Prologue for the opening of the market on the balcony of the Frauenkirche (2009)

From 1933 to 1938, the young city theater actress Renate Timm portrayed the Christ Child . During the subsequent war years until 1945, the Christkindlesmarkt was not held. During this period there were modest emergency Christmas markets. The first Christ Child after the Second World War was portrayed by actress Sofie Keeser with a new opening prologue from 1948 to 1960, actress Irene Brunner followed until 1968. Since 1969 the people of Nuremberg have been able to choose a new amateur actress for the Christ Child every two years . The candidates must be from Nuremberg, between 16 and 19 years old, at least 1.60 meters tall and free from giddiness. In addition, the applicants must know the prologue for the opening of the market by heart. This is their first official appearance and takes place on the balcony of the Frauenkirche towards the main market. The actress is secured with a rope.

In the following two years, the last former Christ Child is the representative for the current Christ Child and also has various appointments abroad, where a. local Christmas markets, such as those opened in Chicago .

choice

Nuremberg Christkind at the Star Hour Gala 2019

The choice of the Christ Child is decided when the prologue is auditioned in front of a jury that selects twelve participants. In round two, the people from Nuremberg can then choose their favorite among the twelve girls for about two weeks via the Internet or by post. The first six of these preselections go one round further and a jury (last Christ Child, representatives from the city, market office, Congress and Tourism Center, State Theater Nuremberg , daily newspapers and radio stations) ultimately decides who will be the new Christ Child.

During the Advent season, the Christ Child has to deal with over 160 appointments (as of 2019).

On October 30, 2019, 17-year-old Nuremberg-born Benigna Munsi was chosen as the new Nuremberg Christ Child for 2019 and 2020.

prolog

A poem for the inauguration of the Christkindlesmarkt was first written in 1933 when the decision to provide a Nuremberg Christkind was made. The text at the time read:

Nuremberg! How do I always love you beautiful German city,
Which has no equal anywhere in Germany.
But when my market was stolen from me many years ago
And then chased me outside the gates, and you felt angry.

But new times came and Germany has awakened!
And has brought back the old custom in honor.
In this noble place, which Germany's leaders consecrated,
And where Nuremberg's citizens used to rejoice as children.

Should we go back to the Merry Christmas every year,
When every good child looks forward to my coming
The Christmas market will be rebuilt in its old glory,
And show your treasures, made by diligent hand.

After the Second World War, the head dramaturge of the Nuremberg Municipal Theaters in 1948 Friedrich Bröger (1912–1973), a son of the working-class poet Karl Bröger , created a new prologue that has been spoken by the actress of the Christ Child every year since the opening of the market. Until 1966, the prologue in the middle section was adapted to the time several times. The current full text is:

“ You gentlemen and women who were once children, you little ones, at the beginning of the journey of life, everyone who is happy today and troubles again tomorrow: Listen to what the Christ Child says to you!

Every year, four weeks before the time when the Christmas tree is being decorated and the party is looking forward to, the ancestors already know what you are seeing here, called the Christkindlesmarkt.

This little town in the city, made of wood and cloth, as fleeting as it seems, in its brief glory, is for eternity. My market will always be young as long as Nuremberg is there and memory.

Because Nuremberg's face is old and young at the same time and has many features. You don't count them all! There is the noble place. But it is joined by the skyscrapers of this day, factories of this world.

The new city in the green. And yet there is always time, gentlemen and women: the Nuremberg that you are. At the end of the year there will soon be the day on which one wishes for oneself and may give to others.

But the market shines far and wide in the light, jewelry, baubles and a happy Christmas time, then don't forget, Sirs and Madams, and consider who already has everything, doesn't need anything for free.

The children of the world and the poor people 'know best what giving means'. You gentlemen and women, who were once children, are there again today, rejoice in their way. The Christ Child invites you to his market, and whoever comes there should be welcome. "

list

Overview of all Nuremberg Christkinder since 1933:

Surname Period
Renate Timm 1933-1938
Sofie Keeser 1948-1960
Irene Brunner 1961-1968
Gabriele Bergmann 1969-1970
Gudrun Bauer 1971-1972
Inge Eichenseer-Götz 1973-1974
Michaela Kraus-Tröger 1975-1976
Birgit Schirlitz-Hueber 1977-1988
Ruth Klinger-Scheil 1979-1980
Heike Steinbauer-Vlad 1981-1982
Claudia Stühler 1983-1984
Tanja Zimmermann-Steinmetz 1985-1986
Doris Kormann-Reinelt 1987-1988
Sandra Niederberger-Hartmann 1989-1990
Andrea Bieg 1991-1992
Barbara Zillgens-rhyme 1993-1994
Sandra Schöttner 1995-1996
Katrin Urschel 1997-1998
Stephanie Jank-Rieder 1999-2000
Marisa Sánchez 2001-2002
Christin Straub 2003-2004
Eva Sattler 2005-2006
Rebekka Volland 2007-2008
Johanna Heller 2009-2010
Franziska Handke 2011–2012
Teresa's loyalty 2013-2014
Barbara Otto 2015-2016
Rebecca Ammon 2017-2018
Benigna Munsi 2019-2020

literature

Web links

Commons : Christkindlesmarkt Nürnberg  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Christmas market in Nuremberg: The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt 2014. www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de, November 3, 2014, accessed on August 27, 2015 .
  2. ↑ Christkindlesmarkt: Tradition instead of kitsch - since 1628. Bayerischer Rundfunk , November 25, 2011, accessed on November 26, 2013 .
  3. ↑ a b c d The history of the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt. www.christkindlesmarkt.de, accessed on December 1, 2018 .
  4. ↑ a b "Indecent articles" confiscated: Council intervened in the main market in 1610 - Luther was the first to introduce Christmas Eve gifts , Nürnberger Nachrichten , November 21, 2011, p. 9 (report by dpa )
  5. ↑ The Christ Child was born three times in Nuremberg: invented as Nazi propaganda, modernized after the war, now more popular than ever nordbayern.de, November 25, 2008
  6. ↑ Chronicle of the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt ( Memento from June 7, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  7. ↑ The Christkindlesmarkt, surrounded by ruins , Nürnberger Nachrichten # 277, November 30, 2018, p. 10
  8. ↑ Heino, Engel & Japanese: Christkindlesmarkt bizarre. Bayerischer Rundfunk , July 26, 2011, accessed on November 26, 2013 .
  9. ↑ The most beautiful booths are rewarded. (No longer available online.) Www.christkindlesmarkt.de, 2014, archived from the original on September 23, 2015 ; accessed on August 27, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.christkindlesmarkt.de
  10. ↑ Schütt Island. www.nuernberginfos.de, 2009, accessed on August 27, 2015 .
  11. ^ "The little town made of wood and cloth": The Nuremberg Christmas market. (PDF; 102 kB) www.tourismus.nuernberg.de, 2010, archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on August 26, 2015 .
  12. ↑ The Christmas crib on the Christkindlesmarkt. www.christkindlesmarkt.de, accessed on August 27, 2015 .
  13. ↑ Sister Cities Market. www.christkindlesmarkt.de, accessed on December 1, 2018 .
  14. ↑ Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt - Christmas market known worldwide. discover-bayern.de, accessed on August 27, 2015 .
  15. ↑ Nuremberg Children's Christmas is a paradise for small craftsmen and hobby artists. (No longer available online.) City of Nuremberg , November 30, 2009, archived from the original on July 14, 2015 ; accessed on August 27, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nuernberg.de
  16. ↑ The Christ Child was born three times in Nuremberg on November 24, 2008
  17. ↑ Heavenly Ambassadors: All Nuremberg Christkinder from 60 years. Bayerischer Rundfunk , July 26, 2011, accessed on November 26, 2013 .
  18. ↑ Picture gallery: Behind the scenes - the opening of the Christkindlesmarkt. (No longer available online.) Www.christkindlesmarkt.de, archived from the original on September 9, 2015 ; accessed on August 27, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.christkindlesmarkt.de
  19. ↑ The Nuremberg Christ Child on the move abroad. (No longer available online.) Www.christkindlesmarkt.de, archived from the original on September 23, 2015 ; accessed on August 26, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.christkindlesmarkt.de
  20. ↑ Christkindlesmarkt Nürnberg: cult figure Christkind. Bayerischer Rundfunk , November 25, 2013, accessed on November 26, 2013 .
  21. ↑ The Nuremberg Christ Child. www.christkindlesmarkt.de, accessed on December 22, 2018 .
  22. ↑ Benigna Munsi is the new Nuremberg Christ Child! nordbayern.de, October 30, 2019, accessed October 30, 2019 .
  23. ↑ Ralf Nestmeyer: The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt in time lapse of history
  24. ^ Entry on Friedrich Bröger at the German National Library : Tp 116560797
  25. ↑ What the Christ Child Says - The Prologue. www.christkindlesmarkt.de, accessed on December 22, 2018 .
  26. ↑ The prologue: “And whoever comes there should be welcome” (Text: Friedrich Bröger; with video of the opening from 2018). Bayerischer Rundfunk , December 3, 2018, accessed on December 22, 2018 .
  27. ↑ Uschi Assfalg: Until 1966, the prologue was repeatedly adapted to the time. In: www.nordbayern.de. Nürnberger Zeitung , November 25, 2011, accessed on November 30, 2018 .
  28. ↑ Focus-Online: The prologue in the wording of November 30, 2018
  29. ↑ The former Christ children. www.christkindlesmarkt.de, accessed on December 3, 2017 .
  30. ↑ The Christ Child was born three times in Nuremberg: invented as Nazi propaganda, modernized after the war, coveted as never before , nordbayern.de, November 25, 2008

Coordinates: 49 ° 27 ′ 14.2 "  N , 11 ° 4 ′ 38.2"  E