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HISTORY OF THE CHRISTKINDLMARKT

Nuremberg, Germany, is known for having the most traditional Christmas festival.  This Christmas Market, on the City's main market square next to the famous fountain dates back to the mid-16th Century.  It's first mention in writing is from 1628. 

A list from 1737 shows that all Nuremberg craftsmen were represented at the market.  The event wasn't held during WWII. 

In 1948 the Christmas Market was re-established.   Dressed in white and golden robes,  with long blond hair and adorned with a crown, the Nuremberg Christ Child is a symbolic figure of the Christkindlmarkt, known throughout the world as one of Germany's oldest Christmas Markets.  Every year on Friday before the first Sunday of Advent, the people of Nuremberg welcome the "Christkind" (Christ Child) , who officially opens the festivities by reciting a poem.  The Christkind is a young woman (between the ages of 16 - 19 years old) who is elected by a jury for a two year period to be the city's official representative for all the festivities.

 

 

The Origin of
Belleville's Christkindlmarkt

In 2014, at the culmination of Belleville's year long celebration of its Bicentennial celebration, an authentic German Christmas Market was held in the Public Square.

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Modeled after the markets in Germany, and in particular the Nuremberg, Germany, Christkindlmarkt, shoppers were treated to vendors from across the world, authentic German food and drink, and entertainment.

 

Each year since then, the Belleville Christkindlmarkt is held on the Public Square and is officially opened by Belleville's own Christkind.

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Come and enjoy a little taste of Germany in Belleville, IL
Admission is FREE!

The Christkindlmarkt is a sub-committee of the BCEO, a corporation organized exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically including the beautification and enhancement of the cultural resources of Belleville, Illinois, through the creation, display, maintenance and restoration of memorials, monuments, museums, and for the promotion of social welfare. It is intended to create a charitable organization that will be exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Sec. 501(c)(3).

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