The world’s oldest Christmas markets
Many well-known Christmas markets have centuries of history behind them. We look at just some of their traditions – and when you can enjoy them in 2025.
Image: Munich's Christkindlmarkt was first mentioned in 1310 | FooTToo / Shutterstock.com
Many festive traditions you are likely to engage in this Christmas have a surprisingly long history. For example, our ancient ancestors tucked into pork and beef for Christmas dinner. Meanwhile, German consorts of British monarchs helped popularise the use of Christmas trees in the 19th century.
If you still need to finish your Christmas shopping though, you might also be interested in perusing a few festive markets. These, too, go back a long way, and are great places to buy cakes, biscuits, toys and handicrafts, among other similarly tempting goodies. Like Christmas trees, festive markets became a staple on the European continent before taking off here in Britain.
Amazingly, many Christmas markets annually held on the other side of the English Channel have been going for centuries. It’s not easy to discern exactly when some of these markets started. However, based on our own research, here’s the Sky HISTORY guide to several of the world’s oldest Christmas markets.
Munich Christkindlmarkt
The German word ‘Christkindlmarkt’ literally translates to ‘Christ child market’, and the Munich market was mentioned as long ago as 1310. Back then, it was referred to as a ‘Niklaimarkt’ in honour of Saint Nicholas.
This same market is still going strong today, having been officially renamed the ‘Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz’. This reflects the event’s now regular setting in Munich’s central square.
This year, the Munich Christkindlmarkt is taking place from 24th November to 24th December 2025. From Sunday to Thursday, visitors can enjoy Advent music performed live by choirs and wind ensembles.
There’s also the ‘Krampus run’, where onlookers can watch fantastical entities – Krampuses and Perchten – on the march. Yes, they’re obviously just human beings in freaky costumes, but hey, don’t ruin the fun…
Bautzen Wenzelsmarkt
What is the world’s oldest Christmas market? It’s tricky to tell, as some markets now emblazoned with a festive theme might not have been directly connected to Christmas upon starting out.
One good case in point is the Bautzen Wenzelsmarkt. Its origins date back to 1384, when Bautzen was part of Bohemia. That year, Bohemian king Wenceslas IV authorised the city to hold a market.
‘However, whether this constitutes an actual Christkindlmarkt is disputed,’ cultural heritage experts Dirk H.R. Spennemann and Murray Parker write for the Heritage journal. In any case, Bautzen Wenzelsmarkt is often hailed (rightly or wrongly) as Germany’s oldest Christmas market.
Attendees can snaffle food at this market before enjoying its accompanying cultural programme. Keen to sample these delights for yourself? Bautzen Wenzelsmarkt is happening from 28th November to 22nd December 2025 in the city’s historic quarter.
Frankfurt Christmas Market
When this market was founded in 1393, it didn’t strictly adhere to a festive theme. Like other markets established in the 14th century, it was really just intended to provide supplies for winter rather than Christmas specifically.
Nonetheless, centuries later, the Frankfurt market has more than earned its ‘Christmas’ tag. You can anticipate picking up ‘Bethmännchen’ marzipan treats at this market, which is running from 24th November to 22nd December 2025 in Frankfurt’s historic quarter.
Dresden Striezelmarkt
Dresden Striezelmarkt is especially worth considering if you are fond of Saxon history, as we suspect many Sky HISTORY fans are. Of course, Dresden is itself located in the German state of Saxony.
This Striezelmarkt began as a one-day market selling meat for locals to put in their Christmas meals. The market’s history can be traced as far back as 1434, during the rule of Friedrich II, the Elector of Saxony.
Incidentally, what inspired the word ‘Striezelmarkt’? A type of cake historically known as ‘strüzel’ or ‘stroczel’ but today more familiarly called ‘stollen’.
You can still buy pieces of this succulent fruitcake at Dresden Striezelmarkt itself. Also watch out for Saxon handicrafts on display as you browse the more than 200 stalls in the Dresden Altmarkt.
In 2025, the Striezelmarkt kicked off on 26th November and will run until 24th December. The Saxon theme is set to continue on 20th December, when the Grand Miners’ Parade will see musicians from almost all Saxon mining regions perform.
If you’ve been to the Striezelmarkt multiple times before, you’ll be familiar with many of its charming traditions. These include its Erzgebirge step pyramid, the world’s tallest at nearly 15 metres high. It’s also hard not to spot the massive walk-in decorative candle arch – or ‘schwibbogen’, to use the proper German term.
The treats don’t have to end at Christmas. By subscribing to the Sky HISTORY newsletter, you can get regular exciting updates about future programmes — whatever the time of year.
