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Christkindlmarkt: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
By carlvaleri | December 2, 2009
Cheerful Christmas music plays above the din of excited shoppers moving from one elaborately decorated display to the next. The smells of hot chocolate, cinnamon, roasted nuts waft through the air permeating my clothes and leaving their scent for later enjoyment.
Multicolored decorative lights twinkle and friendly merchants greet patrons with beaming smiles. With all this holiday cheer, you can’t help but let the Christmas spirit permeate your soul at Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Shopping
A short walk from the main street, it is fitting to have this large indoor market located in one of the most wonderful places to enjoy the Christmas season, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A vast array of artisans display an extensive variety of handmade crafts. The objects range from simple folk art to lavishly decorated and intricately design pieces. Some of the objects will take a few minutes for you to explore each nuance the artist has incorporated into the work of art.
The main attraction is Käthe Wohlfahrt, a maker of authentic German ornaments, nutcrackers, collectibles. If you are looking for a unique holiday ornament you have come to the right place.
Food and Entertainment
Roasted almonds, apple strudel, succulent bratwurst, and the smell of the sweet deserts are guaranteed to make you hungry. An area near a stage provides you the opportunity to eat while enjoying the wonderful entertainment.
The entertainment is varied including local high school choirs to the more popular artists Sarah Ayers and Craig Thatcher. Traditional holiday music normally fills the air while some artists offer modern versions of holiday favorites.
History of Christkindlmarkt
Originating in Germany and Austria, a Christmas market was set up in each of the towns at the beginning of advent, the period starting four Sundays before Christmas. Christmas market or “Christkindlmarkt” festivals began in the 1500’s and was a way of celebrating the coming of the the baby Jesus.
The tradition of Christmas markets has spread throughout the world and has become a large celebration with some of the most famous festivals occurring in Europe. Dresden, Germany hosts one of the largest Christkindlmarkt festivals with its beginning dating back to 1434.
The Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem was established in 1993 and has grown into the one of the best places to visit during the holiday season. In 2007, Travel and Leisure Magazine named Christkindlmarkt one of the top holiday markets in the world.
A quintessential German tradition, Christkindlmarkt is appropriately located steps from Moravian College. Moravian College in Bethlehem was founded by a young German Countess and is the first female boarding school in America.
Come For the Market Stay for the Holiday
The entrance fee is only $8 to this entertaining and fun Christmas market, a must see if you are in the Eastern Pennsylvania region. Why not do something different this Christmas season and spend it in the “Christmas City” of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
Bethlehem is a short drive from other wonderful places to enjoy the holidays such as Peddler’s Village and New Hope. You may even want to see a reenactment of Washington crossing the Delaware held every year at Washington’s crossing, only a short drive away.
What is your favorite place to visit during the holidays? What was the most unique?
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Topics: Bethlehem, Christmas, Holidays, Pennsylvania | No Comments »