Dresden Stollen Festival

The Dresden Stollen

The history of the Dresden Stollen (Dresdner Christstollen) dates back to the Middle Ages. It is mentioned for the first time on a bill of the Christian Bartolomai-Hospital in the year 1474. At that time, the medieval pastry simply consisted of flour, yeast and water because the catholic dogmas did not allow the use of butter and milk during Christmas time. Therefore, the Electoral Prince Ernst and his brother, Duke Albrecht, applied to the Pope Nikolaus V. for an abrogation of the butter-prohibition. The Holy Father gave in to their entreaties and sent a letter, known as „butter-letter“, to Dresden. In that letter he had declared that richer ingredients were allowed. In return, the Dresden Stollen bakers had to pay a „fine“. The money was used, for example, for the construction of the Freiberg Cathedral.

Around 1500, Christmas breads („Christbrote uff Weihnachten“) were sold at the Striezelmarkt, the oldest German Christmas fair. As of 1560, the Stollen bakers delivered one or two Stollen weighing 36 pounds to their ruler for the Holy Celebration. Eight master bakers and eight journeymen carried it to the palace. In the year 1730, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland arranged a legendary amusement festivity in the framework of a military camp known as Zeithainer Lustlager. Even today, it is still the epitome of the baroque way of life because of its luxury and splendour. On this occasion, he had bakers made a Giant Stollen weighing 1.8 tons. This event is the historical model for todays annual Stollen Festivals, which take place every Saturday prior to the 2nd Avent.

The legend has it that the Stollen in its typical shape and with its white layer of icing sugar was nothing but the symbolization of the Christ Child wrapped in diapers.

The Dresden Christmas Stollen of its present quality has been produced since this century. Only the finest, exquisite ingredients, natural flavors and exotic spices are carefully made to a smooth dough of pleasant odor. Even though there is an basic recipe, every baker has his own inherited, secret family recipe. Already for years, aficionados have ordered their Stollen from the traditional Dresden bakeries and pastry shops.

You will find further information about the Dresden Christmas Stollen and the sale under www.dresdner-stollen.com.

The „Seal of Quality“

Please pay attention to the golden „Seal of Quality“ on the cardboard box when buying your Stollen. Only products labeled with that seal are genuine Dresden Christmas Stollen. The Stollenschutzverband („Trade Protection Society Dresden Stollen“) awards this quality seal as an authenticity certificate and thereby guarantees that the respective Stollen has been made by hand in Greater Dresden and meets the high quality demands of the Stollenschutzverband. Further information about the „Seal of Quality“ is provided by the Stollenschutzverband, tel. +49(0)351/4715353.