What is a Christmas Market?
Learn more about a holiday tradition that’s been bringing joy to guests internationally for over 500 years!
Traditional Christmas markets started in Germany in the Late Middle Ages–one of the oldest in Dresden dates back to 1434, but has expanded throughout Europe.
Many of these events go by the term Christkindlmarkt, a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. Traditionally held outside in the town square, Christmas markets offer food, drinks, and seasonal items for sale from open-air stalls, accompanied by traditional singing and dancing. The Christkindl Markt at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market is West Michigan’s first traditional Christmas market, inspired by these historic European predecessors.
The Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt takes place outside, adjacent to an enclosed Market Shed which has been turned into a Bavarian-style beverage hall serving Glühwein, beer, hot chocolate, and hot cider. Wooden community tables fill this hall for dining and beverage enjoyment.
30+ wooden stalls line both sides of the Market Shed housing local, regional, national, and international artisan gift and food vendors. The entire event is illuminated with festive lighting and décor and hosts daily holiday entertainment, curling, children’s activities, s’more roasting fireplaces, private chalet spaces, and festive family fun.
About the Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt at the Downtown Market
The Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt comes to fruition following five years of extensive research of more than 70 Christmas markets from around the world. The Christkindl Markt is a winter wonderland illuminated with international flair, taking place over 26 days, from November 17 to December 23.
In additional to offering a memorable holiday experience, the Christkindl Markt is proud to:
Support entrepreneurs
Build brand awareness for Grand Rapids and the Downtown Market
Motivate people to get outside and embrace Michigan’s winter season
Celebrate community through shared holiday experiences
Turn Grand Rapids into an iconic holiday destination
Future goals of the Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt are growth in terms of the number of vendors involved and the event footprint, eventually obtaining the reputation as the number one Christmas market in the country.
We hope to inspire the launch of smaller neighborhood Christmas markets throughout West Michigan, and assist Grand Rapids venues with initiating their own local Christmas markets.
What is Glühwein? Glühwein is a warm, spiced wine that has been around since 1420 when it was often considered a drink for German noblemen. Now an iconic Christmastime drink, the German word, “Glühwein”, is composed from the words “gluhen” and “wein”, meaning to “mull” or “glow” the “wine”. The name was derived from the red-hot irons used to heat the wine across the Germanic cultures when the drink first became popular. This beverage has a rich, aromatic, and sweet taste, and is typically made with red wine, which gives it a fruity flavor. The wine is heated and often infused with various spices such as cinnamon, cloves, star anise and orange zest which add a warm and comforting quality to the drink, perfect for a cold winter day.
The Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt will offer Glühwein made using red wine with the option (for those age 21 and over) to add a pour or two of liqueur for an even more festive holiday experience. Guests can choose from Amaretto, rum, cinnamon schnapps, and Lillet.
Glühwein mugs, available at most Christmas markets around the world, have evolved and grown along with the popularity of the events. Typically, each Christmas market will present a new mug each year, different from the year before in shape, design and/or color, so the mug becomes something guests collect on an annual basis. This fitting souvenir is often just as looked forward to each year as the warm and aromatic beverage it contains.
No matter the Christmas market, all Glühwein mugs have one thing that they share. Each mug has a small 0.2l printed near the lip of the mug which is the standard size of any Glüwein mug the world over–2 liters or 6.7 ounces. The 2023 Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt mug also has “Mogsd nou an…?” stamped on each mug’s lip which, in German, translates to “Do you fancy another?”.
In addition to a souvenir ceramic Glühwein mug, the Grand Rapids Christkindl Markt will offer a 20 ounce souvenir glass beer stein that can be purchased in the beverage hall. Like with the Glühwein mugs, beer refills will be discounted when the owner returns to the beverage hall with their already-purchased stein.
Who is Christkind and why are they part of Christmas markets?
The term "Christkind" usually refers to an angel-like "spirit of Christmas" rather than literally the Christ Child. In Europe, the Christkind is the traditional “bringer of gifts” much like Santa Claus who originated from the legend of St. Nicholas. Often depicted as a fairy-like child, usually with blond hair and angel wings, children are told that the Christkind will not come and bring presents if they are curious and try to spot it on Christmas Eve.
Many modern-day Christmas markets use adults to act in the role of their Christkind, keeping in the tradition of the blond hair or wig, and a costume that has some type of winged sleeves. The Christkind figure is often used at Christmas Market opening ceremonies, reading a proclamation, and/or can be found strolling through the area posing for photos with guests or handing out small treats.