It’s the beating heart of an Erzgebirge Christmas: proud men parading through their mining towns dressed in ceremonial costumes. Over 15 mining processions, complete with rousing mining music, welcome visitors to the festive season in the Erzgebirge.

Many of these old mining traditions have their roots in religion, and this is reflected to this day in the devoutness of the people, and in their seasonal customs, their music and their art. The miners’ costumes are based on historical templates, with their style, colour and accessories identifying the wearer’s district, the historical period they are from, and what role they play in mining in Saxony.

Parades take place on public holidays in the mining towns and administrative centres, to honour and demonstrate obedience to public dignitaries. Erzgebirge residents continue to regard the mining parades as an important cultural tradition.

The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region bears extraordinary witness to the far-reaching influence of mining on all aspects of society, including the traditions, ideas and values that are both living and intangible parts of Erzgebirge culture.