August the Strong, Elector Lord of Saxony and King of Poland, exhibited some courtly pomp and circumstance to the whole world in 1730 at the "Zeithainer Lustlager" (Zeithainer "pleasure dome"). The worldly pleasures of this 4-weeks extravaganza culminated in a gigantic party. 24,000 guests were invited to the imposing meal. A legendary giant stollen was served at the end of this party.

The stollen, weighing about 1.8 tons, was brought into the "Lustlager" on a wagon pulled by eight horses. The Dresden bakery master, Johann Andreas Zacharias, baked this pastry in a huge oven constructed especially for the giant stollen - it took eight days to heat up. About 100 assistants helped Zacharias. The stollen was cut with a 1.6 meter (5 foot) long "Stollen Knife" and distributed among the guests.

The traditional Dresden Stollen Festival takes place annually on the Saturday before the Second Advent prior to Christmas. It begins at 11 a.m. with the ceremonious unveiling of the giant stollen in the courtyard of the Dresden "Zwinger" (old dungeon) and his following by a procession through the historical parts of the city of Dresden. The sale of pieces of the giant stollen, for charitable purposes begins at noon. And to "sweeten" the event some more: as of 1995, a pretty, local "Stollen Girl" presides over the festival.

Further information about the "Stollen Festival", visit: www.stollenfest.de

15th annual Stollen Festival

December 6, 2008

[Malsch]

Luise Schneider
-
our "Stollen Girl" for 2008