That’s how the solemn ceremony took place

Haste

The Striezelmarkt was opened – that’s how the celebratory ceremony took place

There was already a huge rush when the Striezelmarkt opened. Some visitors waited in the cold since 2 p.m. to be at the front.

The first sounds of the Saxonia Freiberg mountain music corps echoed throughout the Altmarkt, where the stage was still empty. The tension among the packed house of guests was palpable. Then, ten minutes later than announced, Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) took the stage. Dresden Kreuzchor ensures a festive atmosphere.

Despite the delay, the first lights shone on the market at 4:30 p.m. sharp. In the center, the vendors in the wine shop rolled up the curtains. The first cup of mulled wine is sold on the counter – the Striezelt spruce is still in the dark.

Water is constantly dripping from more than 200 huts. It almost seemed like rain was starting to fall, but it was the morning snow that was slowly melting on the roof. In fact, the sky was clear of clouds. Mayor Hilbert also addressed this in his opening speech and thanked “Peter” for the “snowdrops.” Before stollen, bakers traditionally brought a large stollen onto the stage.

This year the tunnel measures exactly 2025 millimeters (two meters), according to that year. Like every year, city leaders tasted Stollen in front of visitors. Hilbert put it simply: “Excellent.”

Then the mayor said soothing words: “The lights are shining, the pyramids are turning, the tunnel has been cut. This marks the opening of the Striezelmarkt. I wish everything peace.” After the attack in Magdeburg, the market reopened with increased security measures. Read more here.

The guests in the front row were very happy. You’ll receive Stollen’s first cut live from the stage. Some of them had been waiting in the cold since 2 p.m.