Leipzig - Christmas Markets

Thursday – Another easy-going day with an unhurried start to the morning. Outside there is still quite a lot of snow and it was cold. Putting on gloves and shoes with chilled fingers and toes presented some difficulties. At midday we walked into town following the “Music Trail”, with Brigitte and Andreas pointing out places of interest. In Leipzig city the Christmas markets are in full swing and before proceeding we first stopped for a sausage and gluhwein (we actually stopped for gluhwein quite often). We also bought a small gift for Liesl and then made our way to a department store to purchase some new underwear and skivvies for me. By now the snow was falling consistently so we wound our way back through the various Christmas stalls, stopping for another herring for Wal, potato cake for Sylvie and gluhwein for all. The evening meal was spelt pasta followed by ice cream for dessert. Bed at 22:00, and the snow continues to fall and cloak the city in a beautiful white mantle.

The Leipzig Christmas Market (Leipziger Weihnachtsmarkt) is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. It takes place annually from the end of November to 23 December on Leipzig's market square and the adjacent streets and, with around 300 stalls and, is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany. Its history goes back to 1458. In notes by Johann Jacob Vogel from 1714 there is the note: "Anno 1458. Frederick II, Elector of Saxony, Marggraff of Meissen and Hertzog of Saxony publicly advertised the Weynachtsmarckt and the city because of the loyal service rendered as shown to him by the council and the citizens." The market offers several areas, including a fairytale land for children on Augustusplatz, a historical market on Naschmarkt, a nativity scene with real sheep, an 8 meters tall Ore Mountains Christmas pyramid on Nikolaikirchhof and a Finnish village on Augustusplatz. On the market square there is the approximately 20 meters tall Christmas fir, usually a spruce from the region. The South Tyrolean village is a popular meeting point during the Christmas market. Tyrolean dishes are served while listening to Alpine music. The historic carousel is a special attraction of the Christmas market.Read more