Excited anticipation and reverent silence: That’s the best way to describe the atmosphere when the Nuremberg Christkind opens the Christkindlesmarkt each year on Friday before the first Sunday in Advent. Although the prologue has been the same for decades, thousands eagerly wait on the Main Market Square to hear the familiar words with which the Christmas Angel opens “her” market.
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A Symbol for Nuremberg: The Origin of the Christkind
The idea that the Christkind brings children their Christmas gifts goes back to the protestant reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546). In Luther’s time, it was traditional to give children gifts on December 6th, St. Nicolas’s Day. To turn away from the Catholic veneration of saints and saint’s days, Luther laid gift-giving in his household on Christmas Eve. He told his children that "Holy Christ" had brought their presents. This tradition quickly took hold in Lutheran families.
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The Christkind is an honorary appointment with many tasks, selected by Nuremberg citizens ecery two years. Every year the Christkind opens "its" market with the ceremonious prologue.
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The Nuremberg Christkind, with her white and golden dress, long blond curls and golden crown, has been the symbol of the Christmas Market for many decades.
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The Christkind visits the Christkindlmarket in Chicago
Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany the Christkindlmarket Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Chicago. Each year, people from all over the world visit the Christkindlmarket Chicago. The outdoor market in the Chicago Loop has become so popular and loved by everyone that any Chicagoan will tell you that they could not imagine the city without it.
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