By Roy A. Barnes

Christmas in Germany is taken really seriously and has much historical significance.  Decorated Christmas trees originated there in the 16^th century when Christians started bringing decorated fir trees into their homes (because of its triangular shape that represents the Holy Trinity).  It’s purported that Martin Luther was so impressed with a bright starry night amongst evergreen trees, that he re-created the scene for his family by putting up a tree in his house, substituting lighted candles for stars; and thus, starting the lighted Christmas tree craze. Do people really take the time to think about where Christmas gifts come from?  Well, some of Saxony’s locales are part of the answer.

To Saxony’s Capital for Stollen

The first Christmas market (Striezemarkt) originated in 1434 in the city of Dresden. And it’s here in the trendy and artsy Neustadt part of the city that I came across some really wonderful-tasting holiday season sweet bread called stollen.  Stollen can be made with a number of ingredients which include finely ground flour, yeast dough, butter (which makes up 1/3 of the recipe, including some that’s melted and then hardened), bitter and sweet almonds, raisins soaked in rum, salt, candied orange and lemon peel, sugar. When Stollen first came out in the 14^th Century as a result of a contest originated by the Bishop of Nauru’burg, each loaf weighed 30-plus pounds. People would not eat the first or last pieces because they saved them in hopes of good luck.

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