Der Weihnachtsmarkt — The Christmas Market

Wood Figures from the Erzgebirge

Many of the wooden Christmas figures sold at German markets come from the Erzgebirge, the Ore Mountains along the border between Saxony and the Czech Republic. For centuries the region lived from silver and tin mining, and when the mines declined, miners and their families turned to woodworking to make a living. Nutcrackers, incense smokers, candle arches and Christmas pyramids that turn in the heat of candles became the region's trademark. The miner remains a central figure: he often appears holding a lantern, and a traditional pairing places an angel and a miner in the window, representing light in the darkness. Handmade pieces from established workshops can be expensive, and buyers are advised to look for marks of origin, since cheaper imitations are common. Christmas markets themselves range from small village affairs to large city markets that draw visitors from abroad. Alongside crafts, they sell mulled wine, often in a souvenir mug with a deposit, roasted almonds, gingerbread, bratwurst and stollen, the fruit bread whose most famous version comes from Dresden. Pickpockets are a known problem in the crowds, and police regularly remind visitors to keep an eye on their bags.