The Leipzig Christmas market on the marketplace and the adjacent streets is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany with about 260 booths and more than 2 million visitors annually.
Its history dates back to 1458. The Leipzig Christmas market is thus, next to the Munich Christmas Market (1310), Bautzener Wenzelsmarkt (1384), Frankfurt Christmas Market (1393) and Dresdner Striezelmarkt (1434), one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany.
The market offers several areas, including a fairy tale country for children on Augustusplatz, a historic market on Naschmarkt, a nativity scene with real sheep, an eight-meter hight Erzgebirge Christmas pyramid on the Nikolaikirchhof and a Finnish village on Augustusplatz. The about 20 meter high Christmas tree, usually a spruce from the region, can be found on the market square in the city centre.
The historic carousel is a special attraction of the Christmas market on Salzgässchen. The partially over 100 years old carousel fell victim to a fire shortcut before the opening of the market in November 2009. In 2010 the carousel was rebuilt true to the original. Since 2010 there is the “Wichtelwerkstatt” where children can tinker.
A special and celebrated Leipzig tradition is the arrival of Santa Claus in the city. Every year, on Saturday before the first Advent at 11 o´clock, many children and their parents greet Santa Claus and his entourage in the main train station, where he arrives by train. Then they escort his carriage and brass band through the city to the market square.
This year the Leipzig Christmas Market will take place from 27.11 – 23.12.2018.
The Leipzig Christmas market on market square in the city centre with the huge christmas tree in the middle
annually (ˈænjuəli) – jährlich
thus (ðʌs) – somit
several (sevərəl) – mehrere
fairy tale – das Märchen
nativity (nəˈtɪvəti) – die Geburt
usually (ˈju:ʒəli) – normalerweise, gewöhnlich
spruce (spru: s) – the spruce [/ vc_column_text] [/ vc_column] [vc_column_width = “1/2”]
victim (vɪktɪm) – the victim
short circuit ( ʃ ɔ : t s ɜ: k ɪ t) – the short circuit to tinker (tɪŋkə) – something tinker arrival ( ə r aɪ v ə l) – the arrival entourage (ɒntʊrɑ: ʒ) – wake carriage (kærɪʤ) – the car brass band (brɑ: s b æ n d ) – the brass band [/ vc_column_text] [/ vc_column] [/ vc_row]