In preparation for community-wide tree lighting ceremonies, and in many stores, trees had already gone up before Thanksgiving. The first Christmas carols could be heard in stores and shopping malls. Now, with Thanksgiving turkey dinners and football marathon past, the holiday season and all its preparations takes center stage. Friday after Thanksgiving is ushering in the first big retail weekend of the Holiday Season. All day shoppers had been crowding into the downtown malls. "Beginning to look a lot like ... " and "Shoppers observe annual ritual" is splashed on the front page of the local newspaper the next day. The countdown to Christmas has begun.
The new arrival or visitor from a German-speaking land is puzzled by the sudden plunge into Christmas, confusing especially when "Thanksgiving" is translated with "Erntedankfest." The American Thanksgiving, with the quick change from cornucopia and harvest symbols to those of Christmas, appears lost in the first big retail weekend of the "Holiday Season."
In German-speaking lands harvest festivals, beginning with the Erntedanktag in early October, are celebrated well into fall. The Christmas season is ushered in at the first weekend of Advent with the opening of the Christkindlesmarkt in many German cities and towns. Just as the long period of thanksgiving harvest festivals slowly leads into the colder time of the year, the Advent season leads to Christmas, culminating with the 12 days of Christmas, beginning at Midnight on December 24.
In many Indiana communities there are celebrations on the day after Thanksgiving. As does each family in our multicultural society, each community has its own ways.
In 1999, in Downtown Indianapolis, the Holiday Season was ushered in, as it has been since 1962, with a "Circle of Lights Celebration." An estimated crowd of 80,000 cheered as the "world's largest Christmas tree," the 284 feet high Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was once again lit with strings of lights (4,600 bulbs). 52 statues, each 12 feet tall, of toy soldiers and peppermint sticks were added to the display. About 56,000 twinkling lights now adorn the branches of trees along the sidewalks and laser images of stars and snowflakes dance across the sides of the buildings surrounding Monument Circle. Live reindeer were on hand while Santa and the Mayor looked on as a student pushed the button to light the Monument. A Polka band played, and there was singing and performances.
In Bloomington there was the annual "Canopy of Lights" ceremony to light up the Monroe County Courthouse and the special "Light up a Life" tree for the Hospice of Bloomington. The lights on the Hospice Community Tree represent deceased relatives and friends. On hand were the mayor and Santa, complete with elves and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
In Brown County, where we live, Santa arrives on Friday afternoon. There is a "Tree Lighting Ceremony" with Santa, strolling carolers, and other activities, as this tourist mecca settles into a month-long celebration of the season.
In the U.S. the Mall has taken on, in many ways, the role of Christmas Market. While wintry weather may slow traditional shopping, bad weather works in shop owners' favor. The modern all-under-one-roof mall displays some of the old world market quality and atmosphere, where shoppers can stay out of the weather for many hours, listen to carols, sip a hot beverage or a meal and do their shopping.
The German-American Community in Indiana celebrates in a variety of ways with Fests, Christmas markets and Bazaars. The earliest is the Weihnachtfest Celebration in Berne, IN.
In Dubois County, Indiana's most German area, there is the Huntingburg Christmas Stroll with tours of historic sites, carolers, Santa and the Jasper O'Tannenbaum Event. Ferdinand has a two day Christkindl Markt, a traditional German heritage market, with local craft items, food, music and more.
At the Deutsche Haus-Athenaeum in Indianapolis, a Christkindl Markt is presented together with the traditional Sankt Nikolaus Fest on the Sunday nearest to December 6. A German Christmas Service is offered at Zion Church in Indianapolis.
There are Candlelight Tours in New Harmony and at Conner Prairie. At Conner Prairie there is also "A Gingerbread Christmas"
In Louisville there is a Christkindlmarkt at the German-American Club followed by a Christmas Concert and Dinner.
The German Craft Bazaar at the Schwabenhof, Menomonee Falls, WI begins with a German Church Service and at noon a German-style dinner is served. For information Tim Kretschmann at 414/425-7072.
In Chicago the Daley Center Plaza (Washington and Dearborn Streets) is the home for the Annual Chriskindlmarket, a Nuremberg-style Christmas market.
Ruth Reichmann
Max Kade German-American Center
Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Indianapolis
The City of Chicago's 86th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony took place November 26, 4 p.m., 1999 in Daley Center Plaza (Washington and Dearborn Streets). Daley Center Plaza is also the home for the Annual Christkindlmarket, a Nuremberg-style Christmas market, running from the day after Thanksgiving to December 23. Initiated in 1996 it has since then become an annual affair. w5.ci.chi.il.us/SpecialEvents/Holiday.html
Replicating the famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt or Christ Child's Market the Chicago market features more than 40 timber cabins that serve as booths. Just like the traditional German Christmas market it provides visitors an opportunity to gather, to taste special Christmas food (e.g. Bratwurst, gingerbread, roasted nuts and the like). Visitors can enjoy all of the trimmings of a traditional German Christmas; they can sample Glühwein (hot spicy red wine) and Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and shop for typical German Christmas gifts (toys, candles, ornaments, cookies, books, music, hand- crafted articles, woodcarvings, nutcrackers, pyramids).
Fitting seasonal decorations, such as Christmas trees, appropriate illumination and ornaments, give the market its festive flair. A series of special events accompanies the fair to attract additional interest. These include chorus and orchestral performances and demonstrations by representatives of traditional German crafts (glass-blowers, woodcarvers).
Chicago's Magnificent Mile concept of shopping, dining and entertainment is enhanced by a Christmas market, and the seasonal illumination of North Michigan Avenue provides a particularly suitable backdrop for it.
The event is organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCoM), its commercial subsidiary, German American Services, Inc., and the German National Tourist Office. For information call 312 644-2662.
Goethe Institut's Chicago Christmas Resources: Es weihnachtet sehr: Deutsche Weihnacht in Chicago
The gingerbread house, immortalized in the Grimm's fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel and popularized in Engelbert Humperdink's Christmas Opera of the same name, has become a favorite of Indiana children and adults alike. They are a part of the holiday season and competitions abound. At the St. Nikolaus Party in Indianapolis at the Athenaeum, children build Gingerbread Houses. On a much grander scale, each year a "Festival of Gingerbread Houses" is held at Conner Prairie where the best receive a prize.
The visitor to Conner Prairie during the two weekends before Christmas can enjoy Indianapolis' finest competition and display of up to 100 hand-constructed and edible gingerbread houses made by individuals, culinary professionals, families, schoolgroups, scouts, companies, groups and celebrities. You will find the home of the witch transformed into castles and abodes as the Hoosier imagination has free play and takes its liberties with the old world tradition.
A wide array of other holiday festivities is offered at Conner Prairie during the two special weekends. The Featherston Barn features a "Gingerbread Marionette Show." In the Pioneer Adventure Area you can meet Belznickel, pop popcorn over a fire, dip candles and make gifts for the holidays while the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread surrounds you. Enjoy gingerbread, hot cocoa and coffee in Clowes Common, courtesy of Marsh.
With the assistance of Indy Runners, Conner Prairie sponsors "The Gingerbread 5K," a 5K run/walk through the grounds. Participants receive a long-sleeved tee shirt or sweatshirt, discounted admission to "A Gingerbread Christmas" and other give-aways.
More on Christmas Markets in Germany