Christkindelsmärik, Strasbourg
{{Short description|Christmas market held annually in Strasbourg, France}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Christkindelsmärik
| logo =
| image = Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik 30 nov 2014.jpg
| caption = Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie
| location = Strasbourg, France
| years_active = 1570–present
| dates = 24 November–24 December
| genre = Christmas market
| website = [http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/ Noel-Strasbourg.com]
| coordinates = {{coord|display=title,inline}}
}}
File:Emile Schweitzer-Foire de Noël sur la place Kléber en 1859.jpg
Christkindelsmärik (Alsatian dialect meaning "Market of the Christ Child") is a Christmas market held annually in Strasbourg, France, on the Grande Île, near Strasbourg Cathedral and the Place Kléber.Noël à Strasbourg. (Unknown last update). Noël à Strasbourg. Retrieved July 08, 2007, from {{cite web |url=http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/ |title=Noël, à Strasbourg, le Sens du Partage |accessdate=2007-07-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817012032/http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-17 }}Noël à Strasbourg. (2007, May 31). Noël à Strasbourg, le Sens du Partage. Retrieved July 19, 2007, from {{cite web |url=http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/pages_prov/FR.html |title=Noël, à Strasbourg, le Sens du Partage |accessdate=2007-07-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070727045223/http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/pages_prov/FR.html |archivedate=2007-07-27 }} It draws in approximately 2 million visitors each year and since the arrival of TGV service in Strasbourg in 2007, the number of visitors has been on the rise. Hotels can be booked a year in advance and some receive between 15 and 17% of their yearly income thanks to the Christkindelsmärik's visitors.Retrieved May 02, 2013, from {{cite web |url=http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-we/strasbourg-le-marche-de-noel-illumine-la-ville-7686727.html/ |title=Strasbourg : Le marché de Noël illumine la ville - le journal du Week-end - Replay |accessdate=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128200450/http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-we/strasbourg-le-marche-de-noel-illumine-la-ville-7686727.html |archivedate=2012-11-28 }} It is considered one of the most famous Christmas markets throughout Europe. It is estimated that the city benefits of a 16 million Euros profit from this 38-day-long tradition. It is mostly famous for its fragrance of mulled wine ({{langx|fr|vin chaud}}; {{langx|de|Glühwein}}).Retrieved May 02, 2013, from {{cite web |url=http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/marche-de-noel-de-strasbourg-le-jackpot-7713415.html/ |title=Marché de Noël de Strasbourg : Le jackpot - Vidéo replay du journal televise : Le journal de 20h - TF1 |accessdate=2013-05-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209070324/http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/marche-de-noel-de-strasbourg-le-jackpot-7713415.html |archivedate=2012-12-09 }}
History
Strasbourg has been holding Christkindelsmärik around its cathedral since 1570, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe.
The name "Christkindelsmärik" is of Alsatian origin, a low Alemannic German dialect which was the mainly spoken language in the Alsace until the 20th century. In many parts of south Germany and Austria christmas markets (German: Weihnachtsmärkte) are also called Christkind(e)l(s)markt (the spelling depends on the local dialect).
The market takes place annually, from 29 November to 31 December. It mainly takes place on Place Kléber, Place Broglie, Place du Marché aux cochons de lait and around the cathedral.
=Planned bomb attack=
{{main|Strasbourg Cathedral bombing plot}}
There was an Al-Qaeda plan to bomb the Christmas market at the foot of the cathedral during the Christmas celebrations of 2000. This was discovered and foiled by authorities in December 2000.[http://www.swr.de/report/archiv/sendungen/020415/03/02041503.rtf Der Frankfurter Al-Qaida-Prozess und das Netzwerk des Terrors]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (German)
=Shooting attack=
{{main|2018 Strasbourg attack}}
On 11 December 2018, a shooting and stabbing attack occurred at the Christmas market, killing five and injuring several. The attacker, Cherif Chekatt, was injured during a shootout with French soldiers during Opération Sentinelle near the scene and shot dead by police in Strasbourg on 13 December. The incident was classified as terrorism by authorities, who identified the shooter as a known extremist who had been tagged with a fiche "S" (S file or security file), the highest warning level for French state security.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/11/latest-several-injured-shots-fired-strasbourg-christmas-market/|title=Strasbourg shooting: At least four dead, several seriously injured in attack at Christmas market - latest news|first1=Henry|last1=Samuel|first2=David|last2=Chazan|first3=Victoria|last3=Ward|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=11 December 2018|publisher=|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=11 December 2018|archive-date=12 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212064206/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/11/latest-several-injured-shots-fired-strasbourg-christmas-market/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/two-dead-and-at-least-11-injured-in-christmas-market-shooting/news-story/02f85e377932d5807d8c774728a30102|title=Strasbourg Christmas market shooting: Gunman injures multiple people|website=www.news.com.au|access-date=11 December 2018|archive-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211220453/https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/two-dead-and-at-least-11-injured-in-christmas-market-shooting/news-story/02f85e377932d5807d8c774728a30102|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/11/strasbourg-shooting-in-eastern-france|title=Strasbourg shooting: at least two killed in terrorist attack near Christmas market|first=Kim|last=Willsher|newspaper=The Guardian|date=11 December 2018|publisher=|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211214123/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/11/strasbourg-shooting-in-eastern-france|url-status=live}}
The tree
Image:Strasbourg capitale de Noël grand sapin 2014 02.jpg
The Christkindelsmärik's Christmas tree, on Place Kléber, is traditionally of imposing height. Topping at {{Convert|32.5|m|abbr=on}},[http://www.dna.fr/actualite/2010/11/08/le-grand-sapin-trone-place-kleber Le grand sapin trône place Kléber] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091437/http://www.dna.fr/actualite/2010/11/08/le-grand-sapin-trone-place-kleber |date=4 March 2016 }}, Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace, 8 November 2010 {{in lang|fr}} the 2010 tree dwarfed much of its surroundings. The trees of the following years were only slightly less conspicuous: {{Convert|30|m|abbr=on}} in 2011,{{cite web|title=Noël : le plus grand sapin d'Europe à Strasbourg|url=http://www.tourmagazine.fr/Noel-le-plus-grand-sapin-d-Europe-a-Strasbourg_a19275.html|publisher=tourmagazine.fr|accessdate=4 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031516/http://www.tourmagazine.fr/Noel-le-plus-grand-sapin-d-Europe-a-Strasbourg_a19275.html|url-status=live}} 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.20minutes.fr/strasbourg/1721739-20151102-strasbourg-nouveau-grand-sapin-noel|title=Strasbourg: Du nouveau sur le grand sapin de Noël|date=2 November 2015|publisher=20minutes.fr|accessdate=4 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121659/http://www.20minutes.fr/strasbourg/1721739-20151102-strasbourg-nouveau-grand-sapin-noel|url-status=live}} and in 2018;{{cite web |last1=Audigane |first1=Liv |title=Strasbourg: le traditionnel sapin de Noël est en place, cette fois-ci ni cassé ni fissuré |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/societe/strasbourg-le-traditionnel-sapin-de-noel-est-en-place-cette-fois-ci-ni-casse-ni-fissure-1556110.html |website=bfmtv.com |accessdate=28 August 2019}} {{Convert|31|m|abbr=on}} in 2013,{{cite web|title=Strasbourg: un sapin de 31 mètres pour le marché de Noël|date=5 November 2013|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/culture/strasbourg-un-sapin-de-31-metres-pour-le-marche-de-noel_1296974.html|publisher=lexpress.fr|accessdate=4 November 2015|archive-date=21 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221033013/http://www.lexpress.fr/culture/strasbourg-un-sapin-de-31-metres-pour-le-marche-de-noel_1296974.html|url-status=live}} etc. At {{Convert|35|m|abbr=on}}, the 2019 tree surpassed even its 2010 counterpart.{{cite web |last1=Thiessen |first1=Tamara |title=For Me, The Strasbourg Christmas Market Is Still A Fairytale |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarathiessen/2019/12/18/for-me-the-strasbourg-christmas-market-is-still-a-fairytale/#1917af66249a |work=Forbes |accessdate=21 December 2019 |date=18 December 2019 |archive-date=19 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219181114/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tamarathiessen/2019/12/18/for-me-the-strasbourg-christmas-market-is-still-a-fairytale/#1917af66249a |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Christmas markets in Strasbourg}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070817012032/http://www.noel-strasbourg.com/ Strasbourg, capitale de Noël] (in French)
- [http://www.photo-alsace.com/thematique/tourisme/marche_noel_strasbourg.php Christkindelsmärik, Strasbourg, on photo-alsace.com] (captions in French)
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Strasbourg, Christkindelsmarik
Strasbourg, Christkindelsmarik
Category:Recurring events established in the 16th century