Where holiday markets go Old World
In search of a meaningful and memorable experience for themselves and their children, many holiday shoppers are seeking out such European-inspired markets filled with seasonal handicrafts, traditional holiday treats and festivities. Beginning about mid-November and extending through December, these markets are on the rise, providing places of cheer and nostalgia.
Germans say that their Christmas markets evolved from “winter markets,” where folks stocked up on supplies to subsist through the cold months, and from the celebration of Advent, when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Soon, craftspeople began setting up booths filled with baskets, toys, spices, nuts and gingerbread treats that people gave to one another on St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6), Christmas and New Year's Day. In 1434, the
Christkindl-style markets are all over Europe nowadays. Happily, Americans don't need a passport to visit one. Here in the U.S., Christkindls originated in German-American communities and have more recently begun popping up in cities and towns all the way into Canada. Baltimore, with a long and rich history of German immigration, sponsors a Bavarian-themed Christmas Village (Inner Harbor, through Dec. 24) featuring about 50 booths and a beer garden.
But since every market is different, venturing out to visit other Christmas markets around the U.S. is a worthwhile getaway.
Most are designed to replicate the tiny villages where their German-American population originated, featuring huts or tents filled with traditional food and curios, like
Kathe Wohlfahrt, the German-based seller of traditional Christmas collectibles, hosts booths at many American markets and sells Christmas pyramids.
According to Wohlfahrt, the tradition of pyramids was begun 200 years ago by miners who couldn't afford Christmas trees.
Instead, they fashioned wooden sticks, tied together at the top, and decorated them with tiny ornaments and candles. Pyramids today are designed to depict Nativity scenes and villages, and topped with propellers spun by heat rising from candles placed at the base.
Of course, a Christmas market doesn't need to offer only European items to be authentic and appealing to those seeking one-of-a-kind gift items.
Holiday markets are held in places like New York, Washington and Toronto that feature the wares of local crafters.
After studying the European model, the company UrbanSpace launched holiday markets in New York's Union Square and Columbus Circle featuring vendors from “creative industries”; 75 percent of the booths represent goods of local craftspeople and small businesses, and the rest is a juried selection of international artisans.
“The major difference between us and the markets in Europe is that our focus isn't only Christmas handicrafts; ours feature local designers and businesses who produce functional gifts: clothing, jewelry, electronics and foods, like craft pickles and mustards,” says Julie Felton, pop-up market director of UrbanSpace.
“Our markets are job creators for local craftsmen, located in the epicenter of mass manufacturing, much in the way the markets of Europe began.”
The markets have been so successful that this year the company has taken over and refashioned the holiday kiosks in Bryant Park.
If you are eager to experience one of these places for yourself, you don't have to wait long. Here are some of the most exceptional Christkindl and holiday markets, some near and some not too far away.
Christmas City Christkindlmarkt
On Christmas Eve 1741, this town was christened Bethlehem by Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Saxony, Germany, patron of its founding Moravian community.
In 1937, Bethlehem's Chamber of Commerce, mindful of Bethlehem's first Christmas, nicknamed the town Christmas City USA.
Its
Mifflinburg Christkindl Market
You'll feel as though you've been transported to Germany at this three-day market, which claims to be the oldest authentic Christkindl in the U.S.
Here are a live Nativity scene, festive huts filled with craftsmen demonstrating time-honored traditions like
Lake Mohawk Weihnachtsmarkt
Billed as New Jersey's largest Christmas Market, this open-air
Toronto Christmas Market
It's worth traveling across our northern border to this European-inspired market set upon the cobblestoned streets of Toronto's Distillery District. Custom-built wooden cabins showcase the crafts of artisans from Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, in addition to local works. Some crowd-pleasing flavor bites include baked Black Forest apple strudel, French-Canadian poutine and potato tornado (deep-fried on a skewer, served with apple sauce or sour cream). There are daily events and activities, the annual World Wednesday featuring global music and performances, elf sing-a-longs and the market's caroling competition: an attempt to beat the world record of largest number of Christmas carolers singing at once.
Christmas-headlining entertainment includes St. Nicholas arriving on a white horse to recount his story, and on St. Lucia Day (Swedish Christmas), the Queen of Light arrives, placing candles in wreaths on children's heads and singing carols.
Holiday Shops at Winter Village
More than 125 vendors operate from glass “jewel-box” kiosks in Bryant Park's Winter Village, selling locally crafted ornaments, jewelry, apparel, toys and food. The village features a carousel and a free-admission ice rink, where folks can rent skates and watch shows on ice.
12th annual Downtown Holiday Market
This market showcases 150 mostly regional artisans, crafters and boutique businesses. Exhibitors rotate, so the daily offerings vary. There is a selection of international crafts, whose proceeds partially go toward supporting causes represented by those who produced them.
Each day features a schedule of entertainment including traditional holiday music and contemporary music acts performing jazz, country, blues and gospel.
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