Thuringia as a Christmas state
Thuringia as a Christmas state
Thuringia
20.10.2017
How the Christmas tree won the hearts of the world

Thuringia is a Christmas state. Although Santa Claus himself does not live here, many Christmas traditions originate from Thuringia. It is because of a Thuringian lady that Christmas trees became famous all over the world. Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (1742-1849), who was Queen of England for seven years, often organised festive celebrations at the English court, invented games and songs and even imported the German Christmas tree to Great Britain, much to the delight of her many nieces and nephews. Elisabethenburg Castle in Meiningen, where Adelaide grew up, can still be visited today.

The decorations hung on Christmas trees also originate from Thuringia. More than 160 years ago, glass blowers in the small Thuringian town of Lauscha began to make strings of beads and little shapes, such as fruit and cones, for their own Christmas tree. These new glass Christmas tree decorations were exhibited at trade fairs and became known all over the world. The long tradition of glass-blowing is still upheld in Thuringia today. All the year round, demonstrations can be seen in glass-blowing workshops and Christmas decorations can be bought in factory outlets. Courses on professional Christmas tree decoration are offered too – at Krebs Glas in Lauscha, for example.

On the culinary side, the Christmas state of Thuringia also has a lot to offer. For centuries, now the “Stollen” has been a traditional Christmas cake. First mentioned in documents in 1329, the Thuringian “Stollen”, also called “Erfurter Schittchen” in the state’s capital, is one of the oldest in Germany. At “Stollen Seminars” held by Erfurt confectioners, visitors can learn how to make this special delicacy and can simultaneously take home a tasty souvenir from the Christmas state of Thuringia.

But the Christmas state of Thuringia is primarily famous for its festive Christmas markets. The largest selection of glass Christmas tree decorations can be found at the Lauscha Ball Market (always held during two weekends in Advent) but these traditional decorations are, of course, also available at other Thuringian Christmas markets. Whether with an historic ambience at Wartburg Castle in Eisenach (Advent weekends), against the impressive background of the cathedral and St. Severi Church in Erfurt (end November – December) or in the atmospheric town of Weimar, city of Classics, the Christmas markets in Thuringia invite visitors to look, to marvel and to buy ideal Christmas gifts.

Information and brochures on the holiday state of Thuringia, Information and brochures on the holiday state of Thuringia, accommodation and travel programmes, event information, tickets and last-minute offers are available from the Tourist Information Thuringia on the hotline +49 (0) 361- 37420 or on the internet at www.visit-thuringia.com.

Photo: Weihnachtsmarkt Erfurt, H.-P. Szyska / Thüringer Tourismus GmbH 


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