'Tis the season! And what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than strolling through a Christmas market? After Berlin's Christmas markets opened their gates last Monday, other cities follow this weekend. On Friday, November 24, 2011, Dresden kicks off the season with one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets.
Dresden's "Striezlmarkt" (named after the sweet Christmas bread "Striezl" or Stollen), dates back to 1434; it is famous for having the world's biggest nutcracker and a huge Christmas pyramid, a 45 feet high wooden carousel with life-sized angels and scenes from the nativity. The culinary highlight of the Dresden Christmas market is of course the "Striezl", a fruitcake filled with nuts, raisins, spices and sprinkled with icing sugar.
Holiday Season in Germany