Traditions of Nuremberg
The old imperial city of Germany, famed for its Christkindlesmarkt, gingerbread and toy making.
Nuremberg is a Franconian city with a restored old town, a castle and a long tradition of craftsmanship, from toys to clockwork. Its Christmas market, the Christkindlesmarkt, is among the most famous in Germany and is opened every year by a Christkind in a golden robe.
The Christkind and the market
On the first weekend of Advent, a young woman in a golden gown is introduced as the Christkind and reads a prologue from the balcony of the Frauenkirche. Prune men, Zwetschgenmännle, figures of dried plums, and gilded angels of foil are sold at the market. Children bring lanterns.
At the table
Nuremberg Lebkuchen, a spiced gingerbread on a wafer, is baked from medieval recipes. Nürnberger Rostbratwürstchen, tiny grilled sausages served six, eight or twelve at a time with sauerkraut, are famous. Mulled wine, Glühwein, is drunk from tiny mugs at the market.
Signature traditions of Nuremberg
Also part of it, and being written: Nuremberg Christmas Market (The market.), Lebkuchen (The gingerbread.), Nürnberger Rostbratwurst (The sausage.).
A trail idea for Nuremberg
- Hauptmarkt Visit in Advent.
- Imperial Castle See the old walls.
- Toy Museum See old toys.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Christkind: Roland Berger, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Christmas market: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, source