Christiana was the fourth daughter, and the ninth of 15 children,[1] of Philip, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and his wife, Sophie Hedwig of Saxe-Lauenburg.

[1] On 19 November 1650, at the age of 16, Christiana married at Dresden Castle to Christian I, Duke of Saxe-Merseburg, the third son of Prince-Elector John George I of Saxony and his second wife, Duchess Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia.

This was part of a double wedding: Christiana's elder sister Sophie Hedwig married Christian's younger brother Maurice.

[2] The double wedding was followed by four weeks of celebrations, including ballet and other performances, tournaments, parades and fireworks.

During her time at Delitsch, Christiana added a French formal garden to the castle.