Dresden: Germany’s oldest Christmas market
The
market in Dresden lovingly referred to as the “Striezelmarkt,” is
considered the oldest in Germany. First mentioned in 1434, it received
its name for the local specialty “Striezel” or “Stollen,” a type of
bread-like sweetcake made around Christmas time.
Bakers began baking Stollen in the 16th century and would give one or
two 36-pound cakes to the local prince during Christmas time. These
cakes were carried ceremoniously to the castle and cut by a knife over
five feet long, a tradition that has been reenacted since 1994, when
the city introduced its annual Stollen festival.