Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein: December 2023
Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein:
December 2023
This month's stein features the Christkindlesmarkt (Christ Child Market), shown around the
body of the stein, a Christmas market that is held annually in Nürnberg, Germany.
The stein was made by Marzi & Remy in 1978 and was the first of a series of three limited edition steins featuring German
Christmas markets. The other two in the series featured the fairs in Munich and Rothenburg.
The Nürnberg market takes place during Advent in the Hauptmarkt, the central square in Nürnberg’s old town, and in adjoining squares and streets. With about two million visitors a year, Nürnberg's Christkindlesmarkt is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany and one of the most famous in the world. The origins of the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt are unknown, but the oldest piece of evidence relating to it dates back to 1628.
On the left side of the stein one can see the Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain) constructed in the shape of a Gothic spire which was installed in the Hauptmarkt in the 14th century. The right side shows the Frauenkirche ("Church of Our Lady"), an example of brick Gothic architecture built between 1352 and 1362 at the initiative of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. Below, the Schöner Brunnen, the Frauenkirche and the Christkindlesmarkt can be seen on a typical winter's day in Nürnberg, almost exactly as pictured on the stein.
