The History of the "Wiener Christkindlmarkt"

The beginnings of the Viennese Christmas Market date back to more than 7 centuries! Since then the market strongly appeals to the Viennese citiziens as much as to the visitors of the city. From then on, it was already the small traders with their stalls which formed the appearence of the market. 1294, the emporer Albrecht II granted the privilege of organizing a "Dezembermarkt" *December market* in order to ensure the supply of the urban population. In the 16th century, today's "Christkindlmarkt" was named "Thomasmarkt" and took place around Christmas time and New Year's Eve. Beside the supply of the standard range of goods (like textiles and groceries) it offered for the first time the goods from pastry cooks which already then were high fashion. About 200 years later, we are in the 18th century, the market went under the name of "Nikolo-und Weihnachstmarkt" resp. "Krippenmarkt" (crib market), again reserved for the small trade.

Since the beginning only small traders are allowed to run this market. Because it was them, who also in troublesome times, took up the gauntlet to ensure that a steady range of goods could be offered to the people. Christmas, like it is celebrated today, was first seen in the "Biedermeier", when it was the high aristocracy who, for the first time, set up Christmas trees in their feudal homes thereby following northern German tradition. It was not until the time of the "Wiener Kongress" at around 1814, that this was accompanied by the custom of giving presents. At this period the market was located "Am Hof" and presented itself just like any ordinary market with the exception that it did offer some pre-Christmas goods (silverplated nuts, candels, tinsel, etc.) as we know from invoices dating back to this period.

But also at its new location at the Wiener Rathausplatz, where the market takes place each year since 1975, did it not lose any of his charm - quite the contrary: it attracts more and more visitors each year. As a consequence the little Christmastown does not belong any longer to the Viennese alone. With it's more then 140 stalls it became the possesion of each and every visitor. These guests, more then 3 million each year from which more then 500.000 are coming from abroad, are visiting the market! The City council, the Viennese economic community as well as the retailers themselves, are very proud to offer enjoyment to such a large number of people from all over the world.

Thus the market paved it's way from the past into our days as well retaining all its charm and beauty which guarantees us the recurrent joy of this pre-Christmas magic. Annually it conquers especially the hearts of the children. Today it is no longer the tin soldiers from once, but newer toys; yet the joyful faces of the children remain the same! Throughout the centuries the Christmas markets were the place where one not only got ones supplies, but also had an important function in serving as meeting place for people. In that way contributing, on a reduced scale, to the modern goal of rapprochement.

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