I. Weihnachtsmarkt

Weihnachtsmarkt/Christmas market

Being a country of immigrants the US has borrowed/stolen/capitalized upon, call it what you will, many holidays from around the world. How many countries celebrate an independence day other than their own? Granted, the 4th of July is by far the largest, but throughout the US, especially in the south, Cinco de Mayo is a large holiday as well as Bastille day (while much smaller and usually only in Louisiana and parts of the Midwest), even if it is only an excuse to drink, Americans celebrate these holidays with vigor. St. Patrick’s day would be another fine example, we not only enjoy celebrating the patron saint of Ireland, but we go so far as to dye rivers green and hold parades. Though, much to the dismay of many an Irish, St. Patrick’s day was first celebrated in America, but that’s another story.

So, it comes as quite a surprise that the US has not imported the Weihnachtsmarkt (though I am told there is a large one in Chicago, I don’t know much about it). It cannot be said it’s due to the lack of enthusiasm for German holidays, see Oktoberfest celebrations.
So why not the Weihnachtsmarkt?
Most likely many Americans have never had the pleasure of sipping a nice warm glass of Glühwein (hot,sweet red/white wine) beneath portable heaters, under tents, in freezing temperatures whilst surrounded by a bunch of stands selling every sweet, fried treat, fried meat, or mixture of all of the above.
It seems, if merely from an economical or love of an excuse to drink, that it would only be logical to have Christmas markets throughout the US.
For the entire month of December in the city center several stalls/stands are setup. These stands sell all sorts of useless trinkets that your lunatic aunt will try to pass off as something special, to any type of fried treat and meat cooked a dozen different ways to the highlight, for any normal person, of the Glühwein stands.

These wonderful refuges from the cold, and often from nagging relatives that actually want to buy the crap that is for sale, serve up all sorts of hot libations that will warm you up on a chilly day (or at least make shopping with a loved one more bearable).
From noon to approx. 21:00 everyday you will find a mixture of people of all age groups and all walks of life, warming up.
Some of the tasty treats on offer include:
Glühwein
Eierpunch- lighter, not nearly as creamy, version of eggnog
Rum punch
Hot Chocolate with a shot (amaretto, baileys, rum etc…)
Feuerzangenbowle- the long island ice tea of Weihnachtsmarkt drinks, has a story and holiday of it´s own
And many more…

I implore you to take part in this wonderful German tradition and hopefully import it to the US so that on my return, if that ever happens, I will be able to enjoy some Glühwein to escape the monotony of shopping and Holiday music.