We move from
one tradition to another. In the unseasonably warm weather of early December
this year Ally and I decided to embark upon an annual event that graces Daley
Plaza in Chicago – the Christkindlmart. This German Christmas festival, set
around the stone plaza as Picasso’s Cubist iron sculpture holds watch, was
created almost twenty years ago in homage to the Christmas festivals of Nuremburg
and Munich in the foothills of the Bavarian ranges. One does not have to be a
Christian, mildly Christian, another faith, or a secularist like myself, to
enjoy the seasonal festivities.
Last
Saturday Ally and I emerged to the city hum and gray sky from our Metra train
stop at Ogilvie station. We tightened our jackets with the five degree drop,
being closer to the lake, and set our hearts down Randolph streets to the candy
stripped tents of the Christkindlmart. Though a crowd I was expected,
wall-to-wall madness ensued, often times resulting in human traffic jams akin
to rush hour disasters on a Friday night in Chicago. The slight phobia I have developed
of massive crowds and noise from all directions was held at bay. Those scents
of roasted almonds in caramel and amaretto sauce and sugars were too powerful,
as well the brimming pots of mulled wine. Loudspeakers carried out the hum of
Frank Sinatra, carolers chanting Handel’s Messiah, and my personal favorite,
The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
Each stand
is wooden box, set into each other, covered by the tented roof. They are familiar
friends year after year where you can once again say hello to the German honey
vendors, Coo-coo clocks, ornate glass ornaments and the Irish stand with knit woolen
sweaters. Purchasing our supply of chocolates from the German chocolate hut
containing European only delicacies, Ally and I waited our way through two ornament
shops, our eyes peeled for unique creations for our first tree together. We had
a brief respite with Ally’s annual sauerkraut, which after twenty or so forkfuls
has your tummy re-acting to the vinegar and caraway seeds. The simple potato
pancakes, fried up and served with sides of applesauce and sour cream, are out
of this world good. That likely though speaks to my desires for hearty meals
and the half of my heritage that hails from northern Bavaria in Germany before the
1880’s trip to America.
How can one be a humbug in the sight of such cultural gatherings that leave us with romantic feelings instead of cynicism in our hearts? I have a
feeling the Christkindlmart will be there to greet me with many years to come
as Ally and I will one day have children of our own to take for a bite of
sausage and choice of what trinkets we will hang on the tree. We have already
started the collection.
http://www.christkindlmarket.com/en/
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