Protests quieted at Christmas markets in Dresden and Pirna, without vocal demonstrations or signs visible.
Revised Article:
Silent Protest at Saxony's Christmas Markets: A Day of Subdued Melodies in Dresden and Pirna
Over Christmas, the private Christmas markets in Dresden and Pirna will echo with a different kind of quiet. In solidarity against escalating music costs, they'll partake in a day of hushed melodies on Monday, as called out by the market operators over the weekend.
Hush Hush on Christmas Market Rambles
The Augustusmarkt, Advent on the Neumarkt, the Romantic Christmas Market at Taschenberg in Dresden, and the Canalettomarket in Pirna will drop their usual background tunes and stage performances. The operators argue that the surge in costs for music, which rarely meets concert or radio quality, is hard to justify. They claim thousands of euros can be spent on these peripheral sounds.
Even the Striezelmarkt in Dresden will be mum between 10 am and 2 pm.
A Plea for Affordable Musical Enchantment
In mid-November, several Saxon cities sprung a petition for dependable music fees from the rights organization Gema. The petition sees soaring costs for organizers like Christmas markets, with some cases jumping more than tenfold. For instance, the Christmas market in Radebeul was slapped with an invoice of approximately 13,000 euros last year, compared to the usual 1,000 euros. The Christmas market in Oberwiesenthal got a whopping 25,000 euro bill for 2022.
Local representatives from Großenhain, Radebeul, Meißen, Niederau, Oberwiesenthal, Schneeberg, and the main business manager of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association in Saxony, Axel Klein, have added their signatures to the petition.
Gema's Standpoint
Gema acknowledges the accusations but insists the basis for calculation remained the same since 2011. Board member Georg Oeller comments, "Some large, high-revenue markets have reported significantly smaller areas to us." Since 2022, Gema has not controlled the total area of markets but has relied on the operators' conscientious and reasonable registrations.
According to their announcement, Gema has sent around 3,350 invoices to Christmas market operators for 2022, including 167 cases with higher fees and 35 cases sailing into the five-figure range.
Saxony's Christmas markets are renowned for their jovial atmosphere and cultural allure, captivating hearts with traditional melodies, delectable cuisine, and handmade crafts[4]. This holiday season, visitors may bear witness to a silent protest as market operators express their concerns about increasing costs.
- In the heart of Dresden and Pirna this Christmas, guests at the lifestyle markets will experience a unique silence, as the popular background tunes and stage performances will be noticeably absent due to escalating music costs.
- Amidst the bustling fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink stalls, visitors can immerse themselves in the charming home-and-garden displays, crafted with care and sold by local artisans.
- While the markets may be quieter than usual, relationships between visitors and vendors are expected to remain warm and friendly, with attendees sharing stories of their holiday traditions and exchanging gifts.
- As pets accompany their owners on holiday shopping trips, they may find festive treats and toys for sale in the stalls, adding to the festive cheer maintained despite the silent protest.
- After a day of exploring the markets and experiencing the silent protest, travelers are encouraged to take in the picturesque sights and sounds of the region by visiting nearby attractions, such as the car dealerships, where car enthusiasts can admire the latest models and take a test drive.
