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In this edition of Carousel of the Arts we will visit Strasbourg, a city of history and picturesque neighborhoods, well known for its Christmas market, a tradition that dates back to the 16th century. In Alsatian lands the tradition of the Christmas tree was born, which was later adopted throughout the world.
Strasbourg, the capital of the French region of Alsace, is a city with many architectural and historical treasures. Its typical half-timbered houses are one of the most striking aspects of the city.
The historic center of Strasbourg is known as the “Grande-Ile”, the Big Island, because it is surrounded by water thanks to the river Ill and a tributary of the Rhine. But other neighborhoods like the “Petite France” are charming. The city is also home to many European institutions and its historic center was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage list.
“Christkindelsmärik”, an ancient tradition
The first written reference to a Christmas market in Strasbourg dates from 1570 and is preserved in a document kept in the Humanist Library of Selestat, not far from the Alsatian capital. For this reason, the one in Strasbourg is considered one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe and was for a long time the only one in France.
Since then, the city has perpetuated the market tradition, which has grown and moved. The inhabitants of the city call it by its name in the Alsatian language, Christkindelsmärik, which means the Market of the baby Jesus.
“Originally it was a very small market located in the Cathedral, which has been changing places and today we have up to 14 different markets throughout the city,” says Iván De La Torre, a tour guide in Strasbourg.
In 2021, the market has 314 chalets or stalls through which about two million visitors pass each year. After the terrorist attack of 2018 and the crisis linked to Covid-19, the challenge for local authorities has been both health and security.
The Christmas tree, an Alsatian emblem and tradition
Every year, a giant pine from the Vosges is placed in the largest and most central square in Strasbourg, Place Kleber. With this, the city perpetuates its history. Today it is known that the tradition of the Christmas tree has its roots in Alsace. The inhabitants of the region cut down a pine tree and decorated it with apples, hosts, bredeles (Christmas cakes, in the Alsatian language) and gingerbread.
“This little tree is one of the largest in Europe: it is almost 30 meters high. Furthermore, it is a tradition closely linked to our history. Today we know thanks to ancient documents that at least 500 years ago the people of these lands used pine trees to celebrate Christmas, “explains Guillaume Petitjean, artistic director of the Christmas Market this year.
Over the years, apples were replaced by colored balls. The best known are those made in Meisenthal, north of Strasbourg and are very present in the Christmas market. With the migratory flows, the tradition of the tree traveled to other regions of the planet, which is why today it is a worldwide symbol of the Christmas and Advent period for Catholics.
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