By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The jolly atmosphere of the German Christmas market – called “Weihnachtsmarkt” – has attracted fans faraway and near, including Hunter Clouse of Clarksville.
“I spent nine years in Germany,” Clouse says. “And this was one thing that I looked forward to every year, especially the Christmas Market in Nuremberg and the one in Dresden.”
This is why Clouse is organizing a German Christmas market for his church, Christ Lutheran, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. It will include German foods and 21 vendors and is free and open to the public. Christ Lutheran Church is located at 2425 Kirkwood Road in the Rossview area.
German Christmas markets date to the 14th century, when town squares were filled with artisans selling toys, baskets, candies and roasted nuts during the holiday season. Thousands of such markets continue in Germany to this day, in which town square are covered in decorated stalls and are filled with the sounds of live music and the scent of traditional foods.
“It’s a nice concept,” Clouse says. “The ambiance, the good food, the opportunity to celebrate the season with friends, the fellowship. It’s a good time.”
Hand-embroidered items will be for sale at the market./Karen Parr-Moody
Clouse said that Christ Lutheran Church plans to recreate the German tradition by serving a non-alcoholic mulled wine, glühwein, at the market, in addition to red cabbage, German potato salad, hot pretzels and grilled bratwurst.
“The only thing is we’re going to be indoors, so it won’t be so cold,” Clouse says.
The market will also feature the handiwork of some local crafters, live Christmas music and crafts for children to do.
Vendors will feature an array of items, including the following: baked goods, Christmas ornaments, girls’ tutus, jewelry, candles, crochet items,
Christmas gift baskets, cards, photos, pepper jelly, wooden gift items, hand-embroidered items, quilts, stuffed animals, silver crosses, baby carrier covers and casserole carriers.
For more information call the church at 931-358-0888.
Photo insert: Various Christmas ornaments will be for sale, including this Christmas pickle, a symbol for the legend that St. Nicholas saved two children who were trapped in a pickle barrel./Karen Parr-Moody
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.