As December rolls around, the spirit of Christmas is undeniable. If you’re looking for something fun to do besides rewatching all your favorite holiday movies, the Kris Kringle Market is calling to you.
What exactly is a Kris Kringle Market?
According to PBS News, the name Kris Kringle comes from German immigrants that initially settled in Pennsylvania, before spreading throughout the United States during the late 1800s. It refers to the German word “Christkindlein,” meaning Christ Child. It was a name designated for who we now know more universally in the U.S. as Santa Claus. The very first Christkindlesmarkt goes back to the 16th century in Nuremberg, Germany. The market tradition became popularized in Chicago in 1996 due to the desire to promote bilateral trade between the U.S. and Germany, according to Christkindlmarket.com. It is characterized by its outdoor nature and vendors sharing “gifts” or high quality Christmas foods.
What can you find in a Kris Kringle Market?
These types of markets were meant as a way for locals to stock up on food and supplies for the upcoming holiday season or to usher in advent, as it is typically held in the middle of town. It comes to no surprise that you’ll find many vendors selling traditional German foods like bratwurst, raclette (cheese scraped over bread), potato pancakes, etc. Many also sell homemade items like woodcarvings, baskets, and more.
Although our most local market, Kris Kringle Market in the Heights is coming to an end, there’s still the iconic Christkindlmarket in Chicago. So if you’re ever looking for something fun to do for the holidays, the Christkindlmarket is for you!
Sources:
From St. Nick to Santa to Kris Kringle, why we have different names for the jolly bringer of Christmas gifts | PBS News
History & Traditional German Christmas | Christkindlmarket
History of Chicago Loop’s Christkindlmarket
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