When you say “Christmas market”, the image that comes to mind is the one where lights, sweets, various objects, wooden toys, bread, cheese and waffle stands blend with a relaxing aroma. These markets are a tourist attraction and encourage getting outside even in the coldest season, and it all started around 700 years ago.

Christmas markets have had their ups and downs in that time, a resurgence at the hands of the Nazis and the current rise around the world.

Tradition. The first of these is the Dezembermarkt in Vienna, Austria, which dates back to the late 13th century and is not “Christmas” at all, but rather practical. Gradually these markets opened their doors with more festive-oriented products, but without losing their way: They had to sell strong products such as meat. In Germany in the late 14th century, you could already see proto-Christmas markets that would lead to the current phenomenon.

War. Some of the most famous are those in Dresden and Nuremberg, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries respectively, and these already had an atmosphere very different from that of the original Vienna. Not much is known about the atmosphere of these markets, but they were a place for the wealthy, with the public watching from the sidelines. These markets boomed in the 19th century. Berlin, for example, went from 303 positions in 1805 to around 600 in just 35 years.

Seeing that people from all social classes came to these markets, the rich moved away from these markets, and a real civil war broke out between the department store merchants who emerged in the big cities at the end of the 19th century. and markets.

1796 engraving of the Berlin Christmas market

flea market Nazis. With the advent of the Nazi Party, markets in Germany, which remained secondary, returned to their old ways. When Hitler came to power, he made Christmas a holiday and used these markets for propaganda purposes as a celebration of German history. Nazi mayors reopened markets and began decorating stalls with lights or toys.

Of course, with the war they took a very secondary place, but after the war and with the increase in Christmas shopping, the markets became the leading actor once again. They no longer had their original purpose: they had become a tourist attraction. And of course, there was an attempt to erase the role of the Nazis in the rise of street markets because it was not a very appropriate image.

Nazis distributing gifts to the poor on Christmas 1935. This was another form of propaganda.

Business. In the 90s, German Christmas markets were the envy of everyone, so much so that other countries were importing the formula. The United States has done this, as has the United Kingdom, of course, and even Japan. As it could not be otherwise, Spain was not left behind. To the already traditional parades (participated by businessmen who rent balconies for 1,000 euros), Spain is gradually adding a good offer of medieval markets.

Cities such as Madrid, Zaragoza, Seville, Valencia, Santiago de Compostela, Barcelona, ​​Málaga, Bilbao or Alcalá de Henares have their own markets. You don’t need to go to the big city, we see dozens of stands in small towns and central areas. They all have the same products, most have ice rinks, and some offer local crafts and cuisine. But in summary, this is another opportunity to promote domestic tourism.

A “You don’t need to go to Antwerp or Cologne to see the Christmas market. You have that market at home.”

Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg

and tradition. Of course, although Christmas markets started in Germany, there are other markets that have evolved into a type of Christmas market over time. We have an example in Barcelona, ​​which has been celebrating the Santa Llucia fair since 1786. It began as a holiday on December 13, when artisans sold an array of objects related to the world of clay figures, paintings of saints, shepherds, animals and nativity scenes. There was also another set of merchants.

The fair has grown and is still celebrated, but it retains that spirit around the nativity scene, nativity scenes and regional Christmas events, away from the more general merchandising we can see at other Christmas markets.

war of lights. But there’s a reason for all this nonsense about markets: You need to attract tourists no matter what. The desire to go out decreases due to the cold, but if you go to the square and see the lights while offering mulled wine and chestnuts and eat churro, it means you have already consumed it and leave the house. And there the battle of lights becomes more and more important.

It is not for nothing that Vigo is the city that starts talking about its lights in June. Many Spanish cities, large and small, have turned the lighting of the Christmas lights into a spectacle, with masses of people in the streets waiting for the moment when the countdown shown on the giant screen ends and the lights will be switched on. Before, suddenly one day you were walking down the street and it turned out that they were open. Now there are prefaces.

Competition for the best Christmas. This “war of lights” has been with us for years, but it makes sense: It’s, as we say, a way to stimulate tourism and move money in town. The aim is to celebrate the best Christmas, and the mayor of Cádiz, Bruno García, who took over a few months ago, has already stated that such events are not just an aesthetic issue, but also “related to employment, excitement, business activity and families”. on the street.

The same thing happens at Christmas markets anyway. We have European lists of the best markets; This year, Marbella is among them. Also numerous lists where European markets are no longer only recommended, but national markets are also recommended.

Suffocation. If you’ve ever been to a big city during the Christmas season, say Madrid, and walked through Callao or Sol, you’ll feel like a sardine in a can. Everyone is going somewhere, but the traffic jam is huge because there are so many locals and tourists stopping to see the lights or fancy shop windows. There are Christmas markets where you already feel exactly that.

Here’s a personal experience from a few days ago. I was in Zaragoza and walking through the Plaza del Pilar on Friday night, December 6th was stifling. There was the Christmas market with the typical stalls selling miraculous stones, jewels and food (delicious desserts to be honest), but there were also all the food establishments that wouldn’t have been so good without the presence of the surrounding market. . fully loaded.

We are lifting the economy here. If there were no market, there would definitely not be so many people on the streets. Not me either

Logical. Eventually, Christmas markets evolved from something that met a practical need into a cultural and tourist phenomenon that reflects how we are reinventing Christmas.

From the most spectacular lighting competition between cities to overcrowding in squares, these markets are more than ever a reflection of our time: tradition, commerce and consumption. All wrapped in the warmth of the Christmas spirit.

Pictures | Xataka, Bundesarchiv, Bild, Roland Berger, LH DD/Dittrich

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