In the chilling cold of winter, travelers from far and near are invited to the cozy, delightful town in Germany. With its magical atmosphere, the ubiquitous sweet scents of glazed apples and baked cookies wisp through the air along with the starry scene of bright lights, as they twinkle at each corner. This is the town’s Christmas gift to all that come here, wrapped with a bow and paper of its historical and cultural colors. For generations, visitors have descended upon the eminent German Christmas Market, “Striezelmarkt,” in Dresden: Eastern Germany’s ultimate, immersive Christmas experience.

Striezelmarkt, the German Christmas Market, delights visitors with its stunning yet humble attractions; a variety of tasty and adventurous festivities captivates guests and welcomes them into the Christmas season. The culturally authentic experience of Germany’s historic holiday celebration is thrilling for all backgrounds. Baked pastries and bread, an array of carnival activities, and selections of souvenirs and crafts emphasize a more inclusive, overall familial experience. Striezelmarkt isn’t solely for the locals; this experience is for all those that are craving familiar holiday merriment.

Known as the “Christmas City,” for its history, Dresden had the first-ever Striezelmarkt in 1434. Elector Frederick II and his brother, the Duke of Sigismund, agreed to an outdoor market taking place the day before Christmas Eve. This was the feast that marked the end of the pre-Christmas fasting of Advent.

The market’s diverse array of food and crafts is thanks to the foreign tradespeople that were given the opportunity to sell at the event throughout the market’s history. The local orphanage began the tradition of wooden products, mainly dolls, while wood traders and merchants sold other toys. Today, wooden toys and crafts are either sold or created with guests today at the festival. However, a main staple of the German Christmas Market is the prune-made chimney sweep trinkets for children.

The event is held every year from late November until Christmas Eve in Dresden. Aside from the 233 sales stands that accommodate visitors with food, arts and crafts, and other entertainment, there are the larger attractions as well, such as the kid-friendly merry-go-round and Ferris wheel! All dazzlingly lit at night, the attractions add a livelier and more active atmosphere to the festival.

Sriezelmarkt’s history of wooden figurines remains a tradition as guests can not only purchase unique items but can also watch craftsmen create the products! Wood carvings in this Dresden, German Christmas market derive from the Ore Mountains. The Christmas Pyramid craft is the main art creation from Striezelmarkt; similar to a small carousel, pyramids are crafted and shown to visitors as historically popular items to purchase.

Another product is known as the Schwibbogen candle arch. To emphasize the connection between the Ore Mountain region and folk art, the candle holders normally present Christmas-related scenes, such as the Nativity and the “hustle and bustle” of the season. Just as the entrance into the Striezelmarkt is a gigantic candle arch, visitors are welcome to take smaller ones home as souvenirs from their visit to the German Christmas Market.

A feast is nothing without its food and drink selection though. Culinary teams serve warm and sweet cakes, cookies, and bread. A favorite pastry is gingerbread. Children can decorate their own cookies while multiple stands sell decoratively wrapped gingerbread pastries. For adults, they can drink wine in a new way. Dresden’s mulled wine, known as Gluhwein, is a hot drink for the guests to walk around and sip in the cold day and night. But what’s so special about this beverage is that it’s served in Dresden Striezelmarkt-designed mugs for visitors. Nearly fifty-thousands glazed mugs are made each year for travelers, with colors in grey, Prussian blue, and burgundy.

Striezelmarkt is truly a delicious and nostalgic way to ring in the Christmas holiday. The city allows new and returning guests to experience the nostalgia for traditional holiday festivities, keeping its history intact yet also modernizing the festival for the younger and older generations. The people of Dresden are enthusiastic about welcoming travelers from around the world into their vast, month-long feast to celebrate the entire season of Christmas.