Christkindlmarkt

Enjoy German traditions with holiday entertainment, German and Austrian cuisine, artisans selling children’s toys, Christmas ornaments and such, and much more.

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The entire community can celebrate cherished Germanic traditions with food, entertainment, local artisans and much more at the Christkindlmarkt on Dec. 6 in downtown Mesa.
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Christkindlmarkts are “Christmas Markets” held throughout Central Europe, with the most famous being the one in Nurnberg, Germany dating back to 1545. “Our event in Mesa is inspired mainly by the Nurnberg Christkindlmarkt,” said Wolfgang Klien, President of the Arizona Center for Germanic Cultures (AC4GC), which is coordinating the local Christkindlmarkt. “We will re-create this tradition with an event that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life.”
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The street will come alive with German-themed entertainment. Plans call for carolers, choirs, an opera singer, a guitarist, floutists, folk dancers, theater, poetry recitals, story readings and more performed by various ASU organizations, community college groups, high school students and others.
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“The whole family will enjoy the Christkindlmarkt, especially children. Their eyes will sparkle when they see the Christmas ornaments on our tree, and they will have a chance to visit with St. Nikolaus,” Klien said.
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Event organizers also expect a variety of German and Austrian cuisine such as bratwurst, schnitzel and a hearty, spicy, beef soup called Goulash Suppe. A Viennese Kaffee Haus will offer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cookies, apple strudel and more. There will also be non-alcoholic hot apple cider. Adults can enjoy dense, spicy Christmas Beer and another seasonal German favorite - Gluehwein, a hot spiced mulled wine. “Gluehwine translates literally to ‘glowing wine,’” Klien said.
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Additionally, plans call for vendors and artisans selling woodcarvings, wooden toys, blown glass, holiday books, Christmas ornaments, German imports and the like.
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Of course, no Christkindlmartkt would be complete without the Christkindl herself. The literal translation of Christkindl is “Christ child” although in German-speaking countries she has become a mythical angel-like girl with a crown, golden locks and gold-and-white robe who brings Christmas gifts to children. On Dec. 6, a teenage girl will play the part of the Christkindl. She will act as the official representative of old German traditions, and at the event’s opening she will recite a traditional welcoming message in both German and English. The girl playing the Christkindl will be chosen from a German language class at a local high school and must be the daughter of first- or second-generation immigrants from a German-speaking country.
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The Christkindlmarkt will be held from noon to 10 p.m. on the first block of North Macdonald Street (between Main Street and Pepper Place in the core of downtown Mesa). Admission will be free, and food and merchandise may be purchased. For more information, visit www.ChristkindlmarktAz.com or call Wolfgang Klien at (480) 502-8510.
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The vision of AC4GC, a non-profit corporation, is to establish a place for people of Germanic background to socialize, and to provide forums for the general public that foster awareness of the contributions of Germanic peoples to the American fabric of life. For more information on AC4GC, visit www.ac4gc.org.
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