The highly popular Christmas markets known as Christkindlmarkts are held all over the world, including Chicago and Europe and as far away as Asia. The Door Peninsula also has its own Christkindlmarkt Door County in Sister Bay, which is now returning for its fourth annual event.
The first recorded Christkindlmarkt was in 1298, when vendors sold food during the Advent season. By 1384 villages all over Germany were celebrating Advent in markets selling local foods and crafts. The Christkindlmarkt was a festive meeting place for people to gather and purchase handcrafts such as nutcrackers, ornaments and cakes.
Martin Luther played a major role in our current Christmas customs. He encouraged gift-giving traditions to be held on Christmas Day, which became a boon to all the markets, and suggested that children receive the gifts from “The Christ Child,” the Christkind. Hence, the name Christkindlmarkt. St. Nicholas came on December 6th to fill children’s shoes with oranges, nuts and cookies while the Christ Child delivered presents on Christmas Day.
SISTER BAY’S CHRISTKINDLMARKT
Located at Sister Bay Historical Society’s six-acre property on the village’s outskirts, the Corner of the Past Museum is located at Highway 57 & Fieldcrest Rd., and will be held on three consecutive weekends, on Nov. 29-Dec. 1, Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15, 2024. The event is a fundraiser to benefit the Sister Bay Historical Society, who thanks you for attending!
The beautiful grounds, a giant heated tent, and 16 historic buildings will all be filled with artists selling their handmade art, crafts and Christmas ornaments under a myriad of twinkling lights. Imagine the air filled with the fragrance of sizzling sausages and hot-spiced gluhwein. If you’re attending with your kids, they’ll be able to enjoy hot apple cider or hot chocolate.
On Saturdays, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting in the cozy Anderson House to hear the kids’ Christmas wishes while alpacas are grazing nearby, outside in their own corral. Christmas music fills the air as you stroll through the booths or warm yourself by the big fire pit.
Thereʼs no better way to begin the Christmas holidays than to plan a friendsʼ or girlsʼ get-away-weekend or make new family Christmas traditions as you gather in the warm, friendly atmosphere of Christkindlmarkt in beautiful Door County.
