Dresden (dpa / sn) – Three weeks before the planned opening of the 587th Dresden Striezelmarkt, the tree was delivered to the Altmarkt. The 30-meter-long coastal fir from Upper Lusatia arrived in the state capital on Saturday afternoon by special transport – a good two hours late due to problems with the wind. According to the town hall, it comes from Crostau (district of Bautzen) and was selected from a total of 15 applications.
The owner family parted with the fir tree after more than 45 years with a heavy heart, but was happy to “marvel at” it adorned with lights, it was said. Numerous onlookers patiently waited for the arrival in the old town and then watched how the trunk was shortened to about 20 meters, “sharpened” and placed in the ground socket.
The erection of the tree marks the beginning of the construction of the Striezelmarkt every year, as the head of the Office for Economic Development, Robert Franke, said. Despite the aggravated infection situation and a weekly incidence of 273.1, the city is still optimistic, with due caution. “We take the situation seriously and are working intensively on the concept.” The cancellation of the Striezelmarkt 2020 shortly before the start was a turning point, “we believe that it is possible this time”.
On Monday the fir tree gets its “light dress” made of 16,200 LEDs and a new Moravian star on the tip. On November 19th, it will be the first time “lights on” – for a rehearsal. One of the oldest Christmas markets is to begin three days later – under the respective corona protection rules. It goes back to an electoral privilege from 1434 for a one-day free meat market held before Christmas Eve. The name after the Striezel – an old term for tunnels – was not used until around 1500.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211030-99-799376 / 2
– .
