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Also in 2007 the Festival of Light represents one of the main events during the time of Advent and Christmas.
Lichtelfest takes place on the Christmas market of Schneeberg at the 8th and 9th of December.
What is the Festival of Light?
It is an interesting mixture of the Erzgebirge mountain's miners tradition and folklore cultivation with modern cultural elements. You cannot think of Schneeberg and its region without this festival.
A newspaper titled an article about our festival:
"The most famous Christmas spectacle of our region"
Although we handle it a bit more matter-of-factly, we try to underline our reputation to be the "Christmas town of the Erzgebirge mountains".
In the dark mines, light was a symbol of life. It was protected and promised an auspicious return.
Every year thousands of guests and visitors are attracted and enchanted by this festival established in 1963 as a "Festival of Joy and Light". Since this time, it always takes place at the second Advent weekend.
The miners hardly saw the sun in winter. In darkness they descended, in darkness they returned.
The lit candles the miner once put in the windows of his room shone through the long winter night when he was on his way to the mine.
For every boy in the family a carved miner with a candle was placed in the window and for every girl an angel. So, the windows were illuminated brightly, because mostly the miners had many children!
Still, light plays an important role in the Erzgebirge mountains, especially around Christmas.
Visit-possibilities
- There is a variety of Christmas concerts taking place at both festival days, as well as programs on the stages of the festival centre, in the St. Wolfgang's church, the planetarium and the Cultural Centre "Goldne Sonne"
- A Christmas centre for children provides many surprises, for example a great model railway exhibition.
- At many places, traditional handicrafts and arts like bobbin lace work, carving, tin casting and turnery can be seen.
- The folklore museum of Schneeberg gives a complete impression about the traditions of the Erzgbirge mountains.
- The unique technical museum "Stamping-Mill Siebenschlehen" in Schneeberg-Neustädtel is worth a visit.
- St. Wolfgang's church:
Guided visits and explanations concerning the Cranach–altar.
- Observatory and planetarium Schneeberg:
"The star of Bethlehem"– Come to know myth and facts about the Christmas star.
- Applicated Arts Schneeberg: public visits are possible
- Historic mine complex "Weißer Hirsch" in Schneeberg-Neustädtel: visits and guided tours
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