H i s t o r y
500 years ago the
"Lebzelter" (gingerbread bakers) held a
market in Augsburg shortly
before Christmas.
Soon quarreling among the participants became
so intense that the topic was brought up at a
meeting of the city council on
December 22, 1498.
Evidently the council wanted to be rid of future
dissension (disagreements about booth bookings),
and hence the city provided uniform booths for
all by the drawing of lots.
Thus, here is evidence of a real market with
many booths all of the same size.
The Christmas markets, also the one in
Augsburg, flourished after the Reformation
since Martin Luther introduced new customs.
Among other things he advocated that children
receive gifts "from the holy Christ child"
and no longer from St. Nikolaus on December 6
or from St. Martin on November 11 as was the
custom at that time. And so the distribution of
gifts on Christmas Eve became an established
custom by Protestants. As a result, the selection
of goods found at Christmas markets increased.
During the time of Baroque it was considered
chic to give children dolls and toys of clay, but
also Christmas items and sweets became more
and more popular. And so these things also found
their places in the booths of the Christmas market.
In the mid 19th century bazaars were suddenly in
great demand, perhaps also because they were
usually held in the great halls of restaurants and
thus allowed visitors the chance to warm
themselves a bit.
The Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt was also
not always located in front of city hall. It moved
about with time, once even to the outskirts of the
city. More details about the various locations at
which the Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt has taken
place are noted in the chronicle.
Rough practices in Augsburg 1538
In 1538 city council forbid the practice of
&Lebzeltenstreichen” (pranks); however, to no
avail as seen in later accounts.
On the day of the “innocent children”
(12/28) young journeymen roamed about with
rods and slapped them against the legs of
young virgins, or as it was called then
&#for the Lebkuchen (gingerbread).”
Hitting the girls’ calves with rods was supposed
to bring the young ladies luck. According to
custom the swinger of the rod expected
gingerbread in return.
Excesses apparently caused city council to
declare the prohibition in 1538. But there are
still reports of this custom in 1760-1770.
The tradition of hitting young women for
gingerbread continued
Chronicle