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Munich's Christmas Market - whose roots go back to the 14th century
- is held on Marienplatz in the heart of the city centre. Town
records first mention a ”Nicholas Market” in the Kaufinger Strasse
near the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) in 1642.
Back then, just like today the Munich Christmas Market offers
traditional Bavarian Christmas gifts, including wood carvings from
Oberammergau, gingerbread (Lebkuchen) from Nuremberg and notably
some exquisite glassware from the Bavarian Forest. Crib figurines,
bee wax candles, chimney sweeps made of plums and almonds are just
some of many thousands of other traditional Christmas gift ideas on
display.
Each
day, from the balcony of Munich’s town hall, music lovers will be
able to enjoy the festive season celebration with a special alpine
Christmas Market concert.
In the Town Hall‘s ”Heavenly Workshop”, children between the ages of
6 and 12 can have fun with arts and crafts or baking Christmas
cookies. Gossamer wings and shimmering gowns lie ready in
magnificent surroundings, waiting to transform young visitors into
angels – at least for a short while. Under the supervision of
professional artists and instructors from the city‘s Children‘s
Museum, girls and boys can have a good time. And it‘s free!
The equally popular Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest in Germany to
specialise in cribs and other nativity accessories, is a short walk
away on nearby Rindermarkt. The historical event has been part of
Munich‘s traditional Christmas Markets since the middle of the 18th
century. The Kripperlmarkt has all you need to create an authentic
manger. Each lovingly chosen and carefully packed item, being a
reminder of childhood, when the manger under the Christmas tree
symbolized a world of mystery and wonder.
Christmas mangers, cribs and nativity scenes have long been a
tradition in Munich. As early as 1597, the Jesuits set up a manger
in St Michael’s church. In 1757, the first original Kripperlmarkt
Christmas market took place: it lasted from the 1st day of Advent to
Epiphany.
More than a Christmas Market and totally different is the “Tollwood”,
Munich´s fantastic ethnic festival. On the Theresienwiese you will
find a spectacle of tents offering an exciting mix of international
musicians and drama groups, performances, live music, art and
culture as well as popular Christmas Market ideas with handicrafts
and cuisine from all over the world.
In all there are a further 20 Christmas Markets located throughout
the city of Munich, including a Medieval Christmas Market with
gospel singing at the Wittelsbacher Platz, a gay pink Christmas
Market (Stephansplatz) and if you have forgotten anything before
leaving for home there is even a Christmas Market with ice skating
facilities at Munich’s international airport. |
