Christkindelsmärik, Strasbourg

Christkindelsmärik
The Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik (Place Broglie)
Genre Christmas market
Dates 24 November–24 December
Location(s) Strasbourg, France
Years active 1570–present
Website Noel-Strasbourg.com
The 30 m (98 ft) 2014 Great Christmas Tree

Christkindelsmärik is a Christmas market (French: Marché de Noël) held annually in Strasbourg, France, near Strasbourg Cathedral.[1][2] It draws in approximately 2 million visitors each year and since the arrival of TGV service in Strasbourg in 2007, the number of visitors has been on the rise. Hotels are booked a year in advance and some receive between 15-17% of their yearly income thanks to the Christkindelsmarik's visitors.[3] It is considered one of the most famous Christmas markets throughout Europe. It is estimated that the city benefits of a 16 million Euros profit from this 38-day-long tradition. It is mostly famous for its fragrance of warm wine and spices which travels throughout the cold, winter streets.[4]

History

Strasbourg has been holding Christkindelsmärik around its cathedral since 1570, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe.[1] The name "Christkindelsmärik" is alsatian origin. A low Alemannic German dialect which was the mainly spoken language in the Alsace until the 20th century. In many parts of south Germany and Austria christmas markets (German: Weihnachtsmärkte) are also called Christkind(e)l(s)markt (the spelling depends on the local dialect).

The market takes place annually, from 29 November to 31 December. It mainly takes place on Place Kléber, Place Broglie, Place du Marché aux cochons de lait and around the cathedral.

Planned bomb attack

The Strasbourg Cathedral bombing plot was an al-Qaeda plan to bomb the Christmas market at the foot of the cathedral during the Christmas celebrations of 2000.[5]

The tree

The Christkindelsmärik's Christmas tree, on Place Kléber, is traditionally of imposing height. Topping at 32.5 m (107 ft),[6] the 2010 tree dwarfed much of its surroundings. The trees of the following years were only slightly less conspicuous: 30 m (98 ft) in 2011,[7] 31 m (102 ft) in 2013,[8] 30 m (98 ft) in 2015,[9] etc.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Noël à Strasbourg. (Unknown last update). Noël à Strasbourg. Retrieved July 08, 2007, from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  2. ↑ Noël à Strasbourg. (2007, May 31). Noël à Strasbourg, le Sens du Partage. Retrieved July 19, 2007, from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  3. ↑ Retrieved May 02, 2013, from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  4. ↑ Retrieved May 02, 2013, from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  5. ↑ Der Frankfurter Al-Qaida-Prozess und das Netzwerk des Terrors (German)
  6. ↑ Le grand sapin trône place Kléber, Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace, 8 November 2010 (in French)
  7. ↑ "Noël : le plus grand sapin d'Europe à Strasbourg". tourmagazine.fr. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Strasbourg: un sapin de 31 mètres pour le marché de Noël". lexpress.fr. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Strasbourg: Du nouveau sur le grand sapin de Noël". 20minutes.fr. Retrieved 4 November 2015.

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