The Christmas pyramid of Erfurt

Section 1 – Erfurt Christmas market scene

The first section depicts Erfurt Christmas market with its wooden stalls, its delicious food and drink and its visitors. Of course, no Erfurt Christmas market scene would be complete without bratwurst sausages or St. Nicholas, who opens the market every year.

Section 2 – Erzgebirge Christmas figures

This section is a tribute to the Erzgebirge mountains, the birthplace of Christmas pyramids, and features only traditional festive figures from this region.

Section 3 – famous Erfurt figures and the Gloriosa

This section is dedicated to the city of Erfurt and depicts notable figures from its history together with the Gloriosa bell, which swings above their heads. The original, which hangs in the cathedral, is the largest free-swinging medieval bell in the world. It was cast on 8 July 1497 by Geert van Wou from Kampen and weighs 11.45 tonnes, measures 247 cm in height and 257 cm in diameter, and chimes in the tone of 'E'. Experts everywhere agree that it has one of the most beautiful chimes of any bell the world over.

Saint Martin of Tours

Born in around 316 AD, Martin of Tours is the patron saint of Erfurt. Legend has it that he once split his cloak to share with a beggar and that night, Christ appeared to Saint Martin wearing the half cloak he had given away. It was Christ, disguised as a beggar, who had tested Martin.

Saint Boniface

The first written record of Erfurt dates back to 742 AD and a letter written to Pope Zachary by Saint Boniface. Known as the 'Apostle of the Germans', Saint Boniface had a church built in Erfurt and established a diocese here.

Till Eulenspiegel

Born in around 1300, the mischievous jester Till Eulenspiegel made it look like he had taught a donkey to read and in so doing made a mockery of respected professors at Erfurt University.

Adam Ries

The great mathematician lived in Erfurt from 1518 to 1523 and it was here that he penned some of his books on arithmetic. In tribute to him, an abacus is depicted on the pavement outside the Haus zum Schwarzen Horn on Michaelisstrasse, beneath a memorial plaque.

Martin Luther

The church reformer spent some important years of his life in Erfurt. Between 1501 and 1505 he studied at Erfurt University. During a violent thunderstorm on 2 July 1505 he vowed that he would become a monk. On 17 July 1505 he joined the city's Augustinian monastery as a novice and in 1507 he was ordained as a priest in St. Kilian's chapel at the cathedral. He then spent two years studying theology in Erfurt. After a brief spell teaching in Wittenberg in 1508, Luther returned to Erfurt in 1509. Even after he moved to Wittenberg in 1511, the reformer continued to make short but regular visits to Erfurt. Luther's ten years in Erfurt between 1501 and 1511 clearly left a lasting impact on him. He later described Erfurt University as "my mother, to whom I owe everything."

Section 4 – carol singers

Kurrende were choirs of schoolboys who sang on the streets and at official occasions. The German word kurrende is derived from the Latin currere, which translates as running or hurrying. Originally the groups would go from house to house singing German and Latin Christmas carols and collecting donations of bread, fruit, nuts, sweets or small change. They would then give these to poor children to brighten their Christmas.

Section 5 – fanfare angels

In days gone by, fanfares could be heard from the church towers in the towns of the Erzgebirge mountains during Advent. And to this day, seasonal brass music rings out from many of the region's towers, including St. Bartholomew's Tower in Erfurt, to herald the approaching Christmas festival. The very top of the Erfurt Christmas pyramid is modelled on the spire of St. Mary's Cathedral, providing one final reference to Erfurt and the Christmas market's immediate surroundings.