The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. The pre-Christmas fair on Nuremberg's main market square can be traced back to the middle of the 16th century.

Nuremberg is known for many things. The beautiful Gothic Frauenkirche was built on the site of a Jewish synagogue, also the site now of the Hauptmarkt where the main Christmas market takes place. This happened after the expulsion of the Jews from the city due the belief they were involved in the 1349 Black Death.

The Nuremberg Christmas market likely evolved from the weekly market in the period 1610 to 1639 to become an independent market starting on St Thomas