My Visit to Chicago's Famous German Christmas Market

As we enter the winter season, I headed this week down to Chicago's famous Christkindlmarkt - literally "Christmas Market" - to see how the Germans do it.

Christkindlmarkt is based on the world famous Christmas Market in Nuremburg, Germany, and provides a great opportunity for window shopping, chocolate consumption, and moderate insobriety.

And since you’ve read this far, you’re almost certainly prepared to stalk me on social media. I am okay with this. Just don’t send me any more of those Kate and William plate sets (I’m looking at you, PrinceWilliamOfficial).

[FireCracker]

That was the best German accent I've ever heard. Even better than the Germans themselves. Well done you! ;-)

[Nonmoryel]

A "short" explanation why "no-one celebrates it like we germans do":
Christmas orginally comes from pre-christian times and has been an important celebration for pagan germanic and other nordic folks.It has been celebrated for about a week, known as the days of Yule. Still today, in some northern parts here in Germany such as the north-frisian isle of Sylt, Christmas still is known as the Julfest. During those frostcovered, hard days of winter the people came together and celebrated a fest that shall remind them that no matter how hard the wnter will be, it will come to an end once and spring will return. To them, this has been a symbolic circle of life.Also, they asked their gods (Donar/Thor, Wotan/Odin etc) for their help during that incredible hard time. That also has been the birth of the christmas tree as we know it nowadays. They used for example pinetrees or mistletoes and such to decorate there houses as it stays green also in winter, a symbol for eternal fertility and everlasting life also after death.They also burned its wood or resin in their houses to make the air smell lovely.
Later on, after those folks had been conquered by christianity, they still used to celebrate it as it always has been way too important for them. So, at some point (in 813 ad) the christian church decided to allow those celebrations but with different parameters. From that on, the people had been allowed to celebrate the birth of the christian messias (that actually has been born several month after christmas date). Later on, it sometimes even had been officially forbidden several times. For example, in 1647 it has been forbidden in the UK. Between 1659 and 1681 it has been forbidden in the colony of Massachusetts Bay.
But for now, enough for today's history lesson. :) Wishing you a peaceful Yul celebration.

[jwkennington]

I have been to the Nuremberg market and it was great fun. I'll have to add Chicago to my list. In 2013 I did a tour of the Christmas markets in Austria and Germany. Gluhwein and sausages all the way!

[FireCracker]

Seriously, though, this place is great! I'm not too up on my German culture with the exception of a few wonderful food items (Wiener Schnitzel because, well, the name) and Oktoberfest, but I'd love to spend the day at this marketplace. I'd like to get a bit educated, a taste of that German chocolate... and a bit tipsy if I went anywhere near that mulled wine.

[elizabethf]

You haven't seen Chicago-cold yet. :) Great video. That was fun to experience KrisKringle Market with you. That's so fun, isn't it? And man oh man, that Mulled Wine is something. I remember being down to the Market with my sisters on a particularly cold Chicago day and having at least 2 of those wines to warm up, then strolling around Marshall Field's slightly (or more than slightly) drunk! Back in the good old days when Marshall Field's was still Marshall Field's. I'm one of those obnoxious Chicagoans who refuses to darken the doorstep of Macy's (or whatever the heck they call themselves now). Tacky is what it is. Surely do miss Field's.

[jd-pynm]

i didnt know this was a thing stateside now im gonna have to go. love mulled wine

[zachdemand]

If you like Christmas stores you should make a trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan. Home of the Worlds largest Christmas store.

[robertb]

A chicago chocolat Santa. That's funny.

[INTPMann]

I'm curious... Is this your first winter in Chicago? It's actually colder here right now in Northern Virginia, if you can believe it. I hear from my son who lives in Chicago that it gets much, much, MUCH colder there...

[waderznutz]

Try bronner's in frankenmuth Michigan

[dolnick]

You going to vlog your first Chicago blizzard?

[robnorris]

I see you are left handed, like Rick Steves.

[narlycat]

i think diabetes is an International German plot.