http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/english/index.php?rid=2 Every year, Germany's most famous Christmas Market opens its stalls for visitors from all over the world, right in the middle of the city, on Nuremberg Main Market Square. At 5.30 p.m. on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, the Christmas Angel opens her market, reciting the solemn prologue from the gallery of the church of Our Lady. And as every year, by Christmas Eve, more than two million visitors from all over the world will have sampled the delights of the Christmas Market. About 180 wooden stalls, festooned with red-and-white cloth, have given the Christmas Market its name of "Little Town from Wood and Cloth". 200 stall holders present their traditional wares: Nuremberg spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, bakery goods and sweets, typical Christmas articles such as Christmas tree angels, cribs, Christmas tree ornaments and candles, toys as well as arts and crafts products. Favourite souvenirs include "Nuremberg Plum People", little figures made from prunes. And of course, by way of refreshments, there are always rolls with Nuremberg roast sausages and mugs of mulled wine. The staff of the Market Department keep a watchful eye on the stalls and the goods on offer. So plastic fir garlands are a definite no-no, just as much as non-stop taped Christmas muzak or carousels. The market's stall holders also compete for the most beautiful and tasteful stall design. And reap their rewards: since 1981, the City has presented an annual award of gold, silver and bronze "Plum People" for the most beautiful stalls. Nuremberg Christmas Market with its traditional image has also been a model for other Christmas Markets. The "Little Town from Wood and Cloth" has also been much in demand as a picturesque backdrop for TV productions. The opening of the Nuremberg Christmas Market, always on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, is an impressive event, both for Nuremberg people and tourists. TV teams report this pre-Christmas event to countries all over the world. People throng the Main Market Square between the Christmas Market stalls. Children crane their necks and stare at the darkened gallery of Our Lady's Church. At 5.30 p.m. sharp, trumpets are blown, the "Junge Chor Nürnberg" from the local music school sings Christmas songs. Finally, the lights are switched on. In the bright lights, the Nuremberg Christmas Angel stands on the gallery and recites her famous prologue, opening the Christmas Market. PROLOGUE This is a translation of the prologue recited by the Nuremberg Christmas Angel for the solemn opening of the Christmas Market. You may find a video recording of this year's market opening, on Friday, 26 November, 2010, in the section "Market Live". You men and women, you who once were children, too, You little ones whose life has just begun, Each of you who rests today, and will work again tomorrow: Listen, hear what Christchild has to say! Every year, four weeks before we decorate our trees, And everyone anticipates the Christmas feast, Here on this square, as in the past, the market comes Which up and down the country they call Christmas Mart. This little town is built from wood and canvas Its splendour´s short, will soon be gone, But yet it is eternal. My market is forever young, As long as Nuremberg exists, as long as you remember it. For young and old the sight of this Old Town of Nuremberg Has many faces whose number can´t be counted. Look at this square. Today in its surroundings High buildings rise, and factories of modern times, And many suburbs grow, yet it remains forever, the Nuremberg of its people. The last month of the year has come and so the day When wishes are fulfilled and presents given. The market´s lights shine brightly With baubles, glitter and with Christmas promise. But don´t forget one thing: Those who have everything don´t need your presents. It´s children of this world and poorer folk Who´ll tell you what it means to give a present. You men and women, you who once were children, too, Be child again today, rejoice When Christchild now invites you all to see this market. Whoever comes to visit will be welcome. Nuremberg's Christmas Market is one of Germany's oldest Christmas fairs. The pre-Christmas event on Nuremberg's Main Market Square dates back to the mid 16th century. The first mention in writing is from 1628. The following inscription in black ink was found at the bottom of an oval, 19-centimeter-long spruce bentwood box decorated with flowers – now in the possession of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum: "Sent to Regina Susanna Harßdörfferin by Miss Susanna Eleonora Erbsin (or Elbsin) on the occasion of the Christmas Market of 1628". 140 Stall Holders in the 18th Century A list from 1737 demonstrates that almost all Nuremberg craftsmen were represented on the market. 140 persons were entitled to offer goods for sale. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Christmas Market became less important. It shifted to various venues within the city, and was only revived in the 1930s. The National Socialists made good use of the well-established traditional event which enhanced Nuremberg's image as the "Treasure Chest of the German Reich" and was a welcome supplement to their own calendar of festive events. In 1933, the Christmas Market moved back to the Main Market Square and was a much Romanticised event. An actress dressed up as the Christmas Angel, accompanied by two golden Christmas tree fairies, recited a prologue, a children's choir sang, and church bells rang. During World War II, no Christmas Market was held in Nuremberg. After World War II In 1948, the Christmas Market was re-established in the Old Town which had been completely destroyed. Friedrich Bröger, head dramaturg at Nuremberg Theatre and son of workers' poet, Karl Bröger, wrote a new prologue which – with a few changes – has been recited by the Nuremberg Christmas Angel ever since. From 1948 up until the early 1960s, Nuremberg actress Sofie Keeser played the Christmas Angel. Her successor, Irene Brunner, was also an actress and played the part until 1968. Since 1969, the tradition has been different: every two years a young Nuremberg woman between 16 and 19 years of age was elected as Christmas Angel for a two-year period. The Nuremberg Christmas Angel with her white and golden dress, long blond curls and her golden crown, has been the symbol for the Christmas Market for many decades. During Advent time, the Christmas Angel is the most important representative of the city and of the traditional Christmas Market. Every year, on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, the Nuremberg Christmas Angel opens the Nuremberg Christmas Market by reciting a solemn prologue. Her other tasks in the run-up to Christmas include appearances on the Christmas Market and on the Children's Christmas Market, fairy tale hour in the "House of Stars" and over 170 further appointments in charitable institutions. Her visits to old people's homes, kindergartens, institutions for disabled people and hospitals bring joy to many people. Just before Christmas, the Christmas Angel gives presents to the little patients of Nuremberg's children's hospitals. In addition, the Christmas Angel has to give a lot of interviews, has many TV appearances, and acts as an ambassador for Nuremberg when she visits Christmas Markets in other cities. This Christmas messenger from Nuremberg is even known as far away as in the USA. The Chicago "Christkindlmarket" which was established in 1996 and is modelled on the Nuremberg market, is opened every year by the previous year's Nuremberg Christmas Angel – with the prologue spoken in English. This special representative of Nuremberg also pays regular visits to Nuremberg's Scottish sister city, Glasgow. When they are counting the days to Christmas, when they open a little door in their Advent calendars every day, a visit to Nuremberg, the "Christmas City" is an unforgettable experience for the little ones. Since 1999, the Children's Christmas Market on Hans-Sachs-Platz with its programme geared towards children has particularly appealed to families with young ones. Here, right next to the Christmas Market, you can find nostalgic carousels and a steam train. The stalls tempt you with delicious food and drink and Christmas articles. Little visitors can take an active part at the many "hands-on" stalls. And if feet are getting cold, there is always the "House of Stars" in Heilig-Geist-Haus, with something new to discover every day. A varied children's programme is presented in a charming atmosphere. And there is a heavenly visitor every Tuesday and Thursday: at 2 p.m. the Christmas Angel comes to the "House of Stars" at Katharinenkloster 6, only three minutes to walk from Hans-Sachs-Platz and Children's Christmas Market, to read fairy tales. And on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at 2.30 p.m., she invites the little ones for a free ride on the steam carousel.