Munich is rapidly approaching the Advent season. This is also evident in the cityscape, where festive decorations are gradually appearing and Christmas market stalls are being set up. The first market opens as early as the end of this week at Motorworld in Freimann. The Christmas market in the city center, on the other hand, is still a little ways off, but one important element has already been in place since this morning. That’s because today, Tuesday, November 3, marked the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
A great honor for Sauerlach
The approximately 22-meter-tall, 50-year-old silver fir, which now stands on Marienplatz, comes from the Upper Bavarian town of Sauerlach. Fifteen years ago, the town had already applied to provide Munich’s Christmas tree. This year, the time has finally come, much to the delight of the town. Sauerlach’s mayor, Michael Hohenleitner, personally cut down the tree on Monday morning.
In the early morning hours of November 3, the tree was transported from Sauerlach to Munich for the Christmas tree installation. A crane lifted the fir tree into the two-meter-deep hole in the ground at Marienplatz. It will stand there until January 11. Afterward, its wood could be used to make park benches for Sauerlach. This is the first time the Christmas tree has come from a municipality in the Munich district, which is why the town is all the more delighted by the honor. It will have its own booth at the Christmas market.
The Christmas tree lights up
The Sauerlach silver fir is still bare, but that will change in the coming days. City employees are attaching a total of 3,000 LED lights to the tree so that it can shine brightly just in time for the Christmas market’s opening. This year, the market is starting earlier than usual, so you can already stroll through the market streets starting November 20.
The Christmas tree will be lit at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Dominik Krause together with Sauerlach Mayor Michael Hohenleitner. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Argeter Musi, which is also from Sauerlach. From then on, the tree will be lit daily from 4:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. the next morning until Epiphany. It will be taken down on January 11.
📅 Date: Lighting ceremony on Friday, November 20, at 5 p.m.
