Not only can you buy the handmade wooden goods at the makers’ Christmas market stalls. Be prepared for an all-round Ore Mountains experience.
You'll find giant versions of the typical wooden Christmas pyramids or nutcrackers adorning the markets and witness some very special festive traditions that are closely related to the towns’ mining past, such as impressive miners’ parades.
And there’s more: Curious foodies should tuck into “Neunerlei”, or “Neinerla” in Saxon dialect, the Ore Mountains Christmas meal and a wonderful example for food symbolism.
Traditionally prepared on 24 December, it consists of nine specific elements, which is reflected in the name (“neun” = “nine”), and each of the ingredients carries meaning with a view to the new year ahead.
The composition of the menu varies from village to village and from family to family. Some stables are, for example, goose, turkey or rabbit meat, said to bring luck and strength, lentils for physical growth and beetroot for beauty.
Restaurants in the Ore Mountains serve it throughout the festive season, so plenty of options to give it a try! By the way, should you not make it to the Ore Mountains itself, the Christmas market in Chemnitz, as the urban gateway to the region, is a great way of still experiencing the special customs.
There are numerous stalls selling traditional Ore Mountains handicraft, not to mention the twelve-metre-high, five-storey Christmas pyramid and five-metre-high candle arch as proud Ore Mountains landmarks.
Check our guide about 20 best Christmas destinations worldwide and find more information about famous Christmas markets around the world