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The Christmas Village in Philadelphia

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The Christmas Village in Philadelphia
Christmas Village in Philadelphia in LOVE Park facing City Hall
Dates
November 18th - December 24th, 2023

Closed days: November 20th, 21st, 22nd, 2023

FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)
LOVE Park (2011–15, 2017–present)

City Hall (2008–10, 2016)

Years active2008–present
ActivityMore than 120 vendor booths
  • Käthe Wohlfahrt Tent
  • Daily Performances
  • City of Philadelphia Christmas Tree
  • Santa's House
  • European Food Specialties (bratwursts, crepes, lebkuchen, stollen, gluehwein, etc.)
Websitewww.philachristmas.com
  • Hours
  • Sunday-Thursday: 12pm to 8pm
  • Friday-Saturday: 12pm to 9pm
  • Thanksgiving Day: 9am to 5pm
  • Christmas Eve: 12pm to 5pm

The Christmas Village in Philadelphia is an annual outdoor Christmas market event in LOVE Park, at which vendors in wooden booths and a vendor tent sell international seasonal holiday gifts, ornaments, arts, and crafts, as well as European food, sweets, and hot beverages.

The Christmas Village was formerly held at City Hall, since LOVE Park was under construction. In 2017 Christmas Village returned to the newly renovated LOVE Park and turned it into an authentic German Christmas market. The event will be open from November 18th, 2023 to December 24th, 2023.

About

The Christmas Village in Philadelphia is modeled in the style of traditional German Christmas Markets. Christmas Market events such as the famous Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, which dates back to the 16th century, are part of a long tradition of farmers' markets in Germany's inner cities. [1][2]

Several wooden booths and tents sell food specialties such as German bratwursts with sauerkraut, schnitzel, goulash, and Bavarian pretzels. A wide assortment of traditional sweet Christmas-food items like lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies), stollen, spekulatius, roasted nuts, cotton candy, chocolate covered fruits, waffles, and crepes are offered. In addition to hot drinks such as hot chocolate, coffee, and tea, Christmas Village offers Glühwein (mulled wine). [3][4][5]

Besides local vendors and artists there are German vendors selling genuine Christmas decorations, pewter ornaments, candles, nativity sets, glass ornaments, toys, woollens, wooden ornaments, lace, spices, and jewelry. [6] [7] The booths' assortment is related to the winter season and the upcoming holidays.

Highlights of the event include live performances from local artists such as string and brass bands, soloists, and school choirs at a central stage, and an opening ceremony with the original Christkind from Christkindlesmarkt Nuremberg, the City of Philadelphia's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and a German American weekend.[8] For children there is a Santa's house and more special themed events such as story time. For adults Christmas Village offers weekly wine and spirits tastings.

Shoppers at Christmas Village in Philadelphia in LOVE Park
German Bratwurst at Christmas Village in Philadelphia in LOVE Park
Glass ornament vendor at Christmas Village in Philadelphia in LOVE Park

Name controversy

In 2010 Christmas Village in Philadelphia was subject to a major controversy about its name. After City Officials proposed to change its name and its portal signs to “Holiday Village”, the controversy became a national news topic. Jay Leno scoffed: “The annual ‘Christmas Village’ in Philadelphia has been renamed the ‘Holiday Village.’ In fact, they’re not Santa’s reindeer anymore . . . They’re now ‘nondenominational venison.’” After three days of controversy Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael A. Nutter intervened and the name and signs were restored.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Joseph, Paul: "The 20 Best Christmas Markets in the United States", Travel Mag, 1 December 2017.
  2. ^ Bakst, Alex: "A Visit to Germany's Christmas Markets", Spiegel Online, 7 December 2006.
  3. ^ Henninger, Danya: "12 Holiday Treats to Eat & Drink at Christmas Village in Philadelphia", Zagat, 3 December 2014.
  4. ^ Marder, Diana: "Christmas village camps out at City Hall", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 December 2008.
  5. ^ Rupp, Jacqueline: "Only a Scrooge Would Say Bah Humbug to this X-mas Village", NBC Philadelphia, 22 December 2008.
  6. ^ Sachs, Andrea: "In Baltimore and Philadelphia, two German-inspired Christmas villages", The Washington Post, 5 December 2013.
  7. ^ Shaw, Gwyneth: "10 reasons to visit Christmas Village in Philadelphia this Holiday season", Family Focus , November 2017.
  8. ^ Dickinson, Grace: "Christmas Village heads to newly renovated LOVE Park, November 23-December 24", Uwishunu Philadelphia, 15 November 2017.
  9. ^ Masterson, Teresa: "'City removes "Christmas" from Christmas Village", NBC Philadelphia, 30 November 2010.
  10. ^ Bloomquist, Sarah: ""Christmas" returns to Philly's Christmas Village", 6ABC Philadelphia, 2 December 2010.

Further reading

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