The Christkindelsmärik
Christkindelsmärik, or ‘market of the baby Jesus’, is the name in Alsatian dialect for Strasbourg's traditional Christmas market. Established in 1570, it is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe and was for a long time the only one in France.
- Christmas culture and tradition
In 1871, this iconic market settled on Place Broglie, becoming the heart and soul of Strasbourg’s Christmas Capital.
To learn all about "this market of the Christ Child," visit the dedicated exhibition at the City Hall, in the center of Place Broglie. For the second year, the exhibition highlights the historical characters of the Christkindelsmärik, such as Saint Nicholas, Christkindelsmärik, Peckersel, and Hanstrapp.
In the Middle Ages, the Saint Nicholas market took place around December 6, but it was banned after the Reformation, which outlawed the veneration of saints. From 1570, under the name Christkindelsmärik, the market evolved both in location and in dates, gradually incorporating a wider variety of merchants.
During the second half of the 19th century, the Christkindelsmärik, also called the Market of the Christ Child, merged with a Christmas fair starting on December 26, Saint Stephen’s Day. Over time, the market extended throughout the Advent period until January, eventually becoming, from 1991 onward, what we know today as Strasbourg Christmas Capital.
Then as now, the Christkindelsmärik offers toys, sweet and savory treats, crafts, and Christmas trees, providing an authentic experience at one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets.
