A Christmas market in Am Hof Vienna 1908 (Carl Wenzel Zajicek, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Have you ever wondered why Christmas markets go by more than one name? Christmas markets date back to the Middle Ages throughout Austria, Switzerland and, of course, Germany as well as in parts of what is now modern France. It is speculated that the earliest mention of “December markets” is from Vienna in 1296. However, the market recognized as the oldest and most influential has taken place in Dresden since 1434.

Christmas markets are associated with providing comfort during cold months or historical hardships and coincide with Advent to celebrate the holiday season. Having such a long history spanning over many regions, it’s no wonder there are various naming conventions.

There are two chief names for Christmas markets:

Typical wooden christmas carousel, Munich, Bavaria, Germany. (Antonio Gravante)

Weihnachtsmarkt

This is the common over-arching term given to Christmas markets throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Middle High German the word “weih” means holy, so Weihnachtsmarkt translates to holy night market; fitting for the typical twinkly lights and German Christmas stars brightening dark winter night skies.

Christkindmarkt

This name is popular in southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria and has Protestant origin. The German term translates to Christ child market. Instead of Saint Nick bringing gifts to children, the “Christ Child” gives gifts on Christmas Eve. Traditionally, tradesmen, farmers and artisans would meet around churches in open-air markets to sell homemade crafts and warming foods to evoke a sense of togetherness and joy during harsh, cold winter days.

This, along with the celebration period of Advent in anticipation of the arrival of the “Christ Child,” brought forth the Christkindmarkt, or depending on location and dialect, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlemarkt or Christkindlmarkt.

Some places have a special name for their Christmas market due to history, tradition or legend:

Christkindelsmärik

While most Christmas markets in France are referred to as Marché de Noël, in the Alsace region of France, which sits along the border of Germany, it makes sense that the name has only been slightly adapted to Christkindelsmärik. Strasbourg hosts one of the most popular Christkindelsmärik, which has occurred around its cathedral since 1570 when the city was still part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Other markets in this region of France have also kept the German root of the name with the French modification.  

Striezelmarkt:

The oldest market in Germany deserves its own name. “Striezelmarkt,” came to be because the word derives from the Middle High German word “Struzel,” a type of bread-pastry that today is called the Dresdener Christstollen. It is a traditional holiday treat made with nuts, spices, dried fruit and coated with icing or marzipan. It is suggested that the bread was meant to look like the Christ child swaddled in a blanket. Others believe the bread’s tunnel or stollen shape references the area’s history of silver and tin mining.

German Christmas stollen cut into slices (123RF)

Neubrandedburger Weberglockenmarkt:

This is another unique, localized name for a Christmas market. It refers to a legend from Neubrandenburg where the weaver, Matthias Gerling had been walking for several days from a neighboring town to make it home to his family for Christmas. A surprise snowstorm made him lose his bearings and he wandered for hours in the forest unsure of where to go. Alone and cold, he suddenly heard the clanging of bells. The bells from Saint Mary’s church guided the weaver home. To honor the “miracle,” the ringing of the watchman’s bell of St. Mary’s in the evening during Christmastime has become tradition. Weberglockenmarkt literally translates to “weaver bell market.”