Christkendlesmarkt Dettenhausen

Christkendlesmarkt — Advent in the Schönbuch Community

When the Schönbuchschule schoolyard in Dettenhausen is bathed in Advent light from 1 p.m. on December 5, 2026, the central date of the Advent season begins for the approximately 5,300 inhabitants of the Schönbuch community: the Christkendlesmarkt. The Swabian dialect term „Christkendles" is the diminutive form of „Christkind" — the Southern German-Catholic gift-bringing figure who brings the Christ Child for the gift-giving on Christmas Eve. The market brings together families, clubs, and neighbors at the schoolyard for a village Advent experience.

Schönbuchschule Schoolyard — the Market Square

The Schönbuchschule is Dettenhausen's primary and secondary school; its schoolyard is repurposed as a market square once a year. Clubs, parishes, school classes, and craftspeople set up small market huts and stalls on the paved area — typically 15 to 25 stalls, creating the image of a classically manageable village Christmas market. The school paths and the schoolyard itself are decorated with Advent lights, often with fairy lights and candle tables.

Club Catering and Crafts

The Dettenhausen clubs are responsible for the catering: the fire department, sports club, music club, parishes (Protestant and Catholic), schools, and kindergartens run the stalls. The offerings are typically Swabian-Advent: mulled wine according to Dettenhausen's house recipe, hot children's punch, bratwurst and Wienerle from the charcoal grill, Maultaschen in broth, fried dough, gingerbread, crêpes, and occasionally raclette. At the craft stalls, you'll find handmade Advent wreaths, crafts by schoolchildren, knitted and felt items from the village workshops, and honey from a Dettenhausen beekeeper.

Club Program and Music

Throughout the afternoon and early evening, local groups provide a musical program: the brass choir of the Protestant parish plays Advent chorales, the Dettenhausen music club complements with brass pieces, and school choirs and kindergarten groups sing Christmas carols. Occasionally, St. Nicholas visits the market and distributes gifts to the children. The atmosphere is village-like and personal — the people of Dettenhausen know each other, meet, and chat for a while at the mulled wine stand.

Dettenhausen — Schönbuch Community in the Tübingen District

Dettenhausen, a community of around 5,300 inhabitants in the Tübingen district, is located in the heart of the Schönbuch — one of Württemberg's largest contiguous forest areas. The municipality consists of the main town of Dettenhausen and is surrounded by Schönbuch forests, which belong to the Schönbuch Nature Park of the same name. In summer, Dettenhausen is a starting point for hikes, mushroom foraging, and bike tours in the Schönbuch; in winter, the forest offers opportunities for cross-country skiing tours when there is snow. The Christkendlesmarkt is the community's social Advent event — a classic Swabian village format.