No matter what you call it, Christkindlmarkt (or Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, Marché de Noël or Weihnachtsmarkt) is a festive way to celebrate the joy of the season—and a great way to involve your family in meaningful traditions.
A delight to the senses, a Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas market, is a family-friendly street market that ushers in the Christmas season. They are usually held outdoors or inside heated tents during the weeks of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. These special Christmas markets originated in Germany and have been a mainstay there since the mid-1500s. Then, as now, individual markets provided their own unique experience as food, wine and wares specific to each locale were made available for sampling and purchase, all under the backdrop of the cheerful sights and sounds of the season.
Found throughout Europe, in North America and even some Asian cities, today these special Christmas markets are joyous, much-anticipated events, as they bring warmth, light and laughter into the cold and dark of winter.
The literal meaning of Christkindlmarkt is “Christ child market,” and they are usually located in the heart of the town or city. Awash in the sights and aromas of delicious, traditional foods and drink and offering seasonal items from open-air stalls, each market brings its own individual flavor.
Have you been to a Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas market? Please feel free to let us know what you thought in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!
Resources:
Wikipedia: Christmas market
Leavenworth Christkindmarkt
Freiburg Christmas Market 2015
A taste of Christmas markets around the world
German Christmas Markets: Freiburg
Huff Post Travel – The Most Unique Christmas Traditions Around The World
JTBUSA blog – For a Taste of a German Christmas, Visit Deutscher Weihnachtsmarkt in Osaka, Japan
Would love to go to those markets! I love buying homemade goodies and crafts!
My family and I lived in Austria for a year when I was fourteen years old and were introduced to the wonder of the Christkindlmarkts in and around Vienna. Now back in the Chicago suburbs, we eagerly await going downtown to the Christkindlmarkt in Chicago every year to have a little taste (literally) of our other home in Austria.
I would love to go to Germany and Ireland to see their Christkindlmarkts….in St Paul, Minnesota they have a small one at the Germanic American Institute. Sadly you have to either be a member or know a member to attend.
I wish this was more common in America! They have this in Frankenmuth, MI when we go and we love it!
I’ve never even heard of these!!!! I want to go to one!!! *pouts*