Christkindlmarket in Chicago

Unpacking our Christmas decorations and bringing them up from their basement storage closet usually brings back memories of some of our most enjoyable trips. I often bring some sort of holiday ornament or decoration back from our travels, and two of the nutcrackers I unpacked and brought upstairs this past weekend to display by my tree brought back memories of a trip to Chicago and a visit to that city’s Christkindlmarket.

The Christkindlmarket established in Nuremburg, Germany in 1545 served as an inspiration to Chicago’s German-theme, open-air Christmas market. The Nuremburg market is one of Germany’s oldest Christmas fairs, and the tradition continues today with approximately 200 vendors selling traditional German foods, drink and holiday decorations from the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent through Christmas Eve on December 24.

Chicago’s version of Christkindlmarket plays host to 40 to 50 vendors offering a festive taste of German food, music and culture in shadow of a unique Picasso sculpture in the city’s Daley Plaza. Established in 1996, Chicago’s Christkindlmarket started as an effort by the city’s German American Chamber of Commerce to promote trade between the United States and Germany.  The Chicago market moved to Daley Plaza in 1997 and grew into a holiday tradition in the city. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket now draws more than 500,000 visitors each year during the four-week long event, which runs from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.

We discovered the market one afternoon as we explored the city on foot, taking the opportunity to scout out some of the vendor booths and snap a few photos. One of my favorite booths was the canvas and wood-trimmed store that housed some of the most beautiful nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments from the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Shop.

We made it a point to return later in the evening to enjoy the German music, jovial crowds, beautiful holiday lights and, of course, a little shopping!

The Chicago Christkindlmarket bills itself as a change of pace from commercial shopping districts like the city’s Magnificent Mile and State Street.  Savory Old World treats like potato pancakes, hot spiced wine or German sausages tempt shoppers as they stroll among the lighted holiday decorations, listen to carolers and shop for unique gifts.

I spent most of my time in the Käthe Wohlfahrt booth that evening, finally deciding to purchase a rosy-cheeked snowman nutcracker and a small Santa nutcracker equipped with a tiny hammer, paint can and other tools needed to create his holiday toys.

I look at my two nutcrackers and remember spending a crisp winter evening enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of a traditional German-style Christmas and hoping it won’t be too long before we can make a return trip to Chicago and its beautiful Christkindlmarket.

© Dominique King 2008

Comments

[Rachel Burton]

Nice post! I had pictures of this too, but didn't have time to blog amidst all the traveling... It is a great spot though and I do love the bratwursts.