HISTORY OF THE CHRISTKINDLMARKT

Nuremberg, Germany, is known for having the most traditional Christmas festival.  This Christmas Market, on the City's main market square next to the famous fountain dates back to the mid-16th Century.  It's first mention in writing is from 1628.

A list from 1737 shows that all Nuremberg craftsmen were represented at the market.  The event wasn't held during WWII.

In 1948 the Christmas Market was re-established.   Dressed in white and golden robes,  with long blond hair and adorned with a crown, the Nuremberg Christ Child is a symbolic figure of the Christkindlmarkt, known throughout the world as one of Germany's oldest Christmas Markets.  Every year on Friday before the first Sunday of Advent, the people of Nuremberg welcome the "Christkind" (Christ Child) , who officially opens the festivities by reciting a poem.  The Christkind is a young woman (between the ages of 16 - 19 years old) who is elected by a jury for a two year period to be the city's official representative for all the festivities.