Dresden Christmas Market

Well, the last of the 2006 German Christmas Market whorlwind tour included a stop in Dresden. A couple of more years, and we will have hit most of the major markets and done a bit of city sightseeing in the process. The Dresden Christmas Market had a lot of the same booths, food, and sights/sounds of other German Christmas Markets but there was a more homier feel (less commercial) to this market than the others we've seen this year. Even the decorations seemed more homespun.

Dresden needs no "kitschy" marketing ploy to attract visitors to this market as it is one of the oldest in Germany. Food highlights included the Thuringer Bratwurst and Flammkuchen; the other claim to fame is the Dresden Stollen. It was being sold EVERYWHERE.

Yes, the Budman drew "first blood", making the first purchase of the day.





One of many Dresden Stollen booths.



Local woodcarvings from Saxony.



Scenes from the Christmas Market.







Raisen Man – this giant version of the Raisen men sold in Dresden Christmas markets. I have yet to understand exactly why, but this apparently an Eastern German tradition as we saw the same booths last year in Nuremburg.



Christmas market by night.



The Gluwhein hut …



Winner of the wackiest Christmas decoration of the season. Why are a beer bottle and two sausages hanging from a tree? What gives?