Submitted by Loveroffinerthings t3_yyh3q6 in RhodeIsland
Why are there no festive Christmas villages in RI? Not like a pop up Christmas sale, but like the European types with wooden Huts, gluwein, food vendors selling cheesy spaetzle or raclette. I have been to dozens of them in Europe, and ones in NYC and Philly are great, but the Boston one sucked. Should I just start my own?
I’ve heard the Chicago one is amazing, the ones in NYC and Philly are pretty fun and easier to get to by train. We might check out the one in Bristol.
Can confirm the Chicago one is incredible! I lived in Chicago and been to European markets and Chicago does it right !
Milwaukee one is great but they've been not doing it since COVID started and it hasn't come back yet.
The fact that OP called it "Christkindlmarkt" was what gave it away that they were thinking of the Chicago one.
Chicago's Christkindlmarkt is pretty neat, and they've recently had to split it in two and put a second location out in the 'burbs.
Edit: Didn't realize you *were* OP who I was responding to. lmaoGuess you *haven't* been to the one in Chicago. I didn't realize anywhere else specifically called it Christkindlmarkt outside of Chicago or actual Germany.
I’ve been to them all over, usually only places with a good German population calls it that, except for Denver, they called it Christkindl market, but that’s not an overly German city.
Austrian checking in. This is what they are called in Austria, the name comes from the “Christkindl” (Christ’s’ child), which is the angel that put gifts under the Christmas tree (our version of Santa)
>Italians and Portuguese make up the majority of the population here and have very different Christmas traditions.
The Christmas street/village thing is quite common in Italy too
https://www.visititaly.eu/exhibitions-events-and-shows/most-beautiful-christmas-markets-in-italy
That’s called a Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). Just over the border into MA in Walpole at the Boylston Schul Verein they have one in December that’s real and has Gluwein and all.
Nice, that’s about an hour from me. I’ll check that one out this year.
There's a big Oktoberfest in Walpole too.
That’s what I said though
We have La Salette. What more could anyone ever want?
This is the most rhode island answer. Claiming something is ours outside or our state.
1000%%!!! 👏🏼👏🏼
I didn’t claim it was RI’s. I don’t see that in my copy. I mean maybe you can see invisible words?
I just am pointing out what more does anyone need because everyone in this area seems to think it’s the bees knees.
But ya know. You go on with assumptions. That works I suppose.
This is the most generation z answer. Thinking people are “claiming” anything at all, ever.
Did someone tell you that you can only use services and businesses within the state border for some reason? Do you get mad when you see Mass plates in the Gregg’s parking lot?
Such an odd perspective.
First of all you are way over thinking this. Second, Gregg's? Such a boomer answer.
So I was right haha
I was being sarcastic since you're into labeling everything.
But if you live in RI, traveling outside of the state is normal. I live in Providence and travel to Attleboro for Market Basket, but I would not clamor for one to open here in PVD. It’s already close enough
What is that? I googled it and it came up with a church event in Attleboro. Is that what you’re referencing?
Yes. It’s a light display thing they do and everyone far and wide goes to it. Crazy Catholics.
La Sallete is really cool. Even if you’re not Catholic it’s really like a Christmas lights wonderland. Definitely worth checking out!
There was one in Pawtucket in 2019, but I don’t know if it’s happened since. Honestly it felt more like a church bazaar than a Christmas market. But there was gluhwein and they sold special mugs, so that was nice.
Sounds better than nothing. I still have my mugs from a few of them, the most fun being a bright orange one from Luxembourg. If I knew a shed maker I’d honestly try to start one.
Here's the one in Pawtucket, a part of the German society: https://www.gacsri.org/events-1/christkindlmarkt-christmas-market
Is it really only 1 day 🙁
The German club in Pawtucket hosts one and I’ve gotten event ads about the one in Bristol. Family has gone to the Pawtucket one but wasn’t impressed.
My husband is from Munich and I would like to see one of these here as well.
It's just nice....I've always felt like fun things in RI barely exist once it gets to this stage of the year. We just invite family and friends over during the winter - eat, and drink in the house until it gets warm again.
I feel the same, everything in RI is about summer, beaches, Del’s, fried seafood, whatever else. Really would love to do this, I started calling around today, who knows, maybe 2023 will have a European Christmas market, with hot chocolate, mulled wine, fun crafts, great foods… be sure to keep an eye out here if I get it started.
That would be awesome, we will likely be there if it happens!! Good luck!
There is a new Boston one in the seaport that looked interesting as they were setting up.
I do agree it would be fun. I think we need a way to mix it up though. Like gluwein and meatballs. Raclette chimis. Linguica and spatzle.
Hope st used to do a small one and seven stars did the raclette. It was only one day though. Like the second Saturday after Thanksgiving I think. Would be cool to have one for the month.
I could just imagine adding in Portuguese and Italian with one for RI/SE Mass. grilled chourico with sauerkraut, Raclette melted over a panettone, use Vihno Verde for a white gluwein.
Agree with those pointing out the heavy Italian and Portuguese influence in RI. And more recently the Hispanic. Those cultures, at least here in the US, lean to the summer street fairs, Catholic Saint Day festivals, etc.I think a Christmas Market would be a wonderful addition and yes you should start one.
Isn't there a Festival of Trees the Shriners put on every year in Pawtuxcet Village?
if starting your own means I can eat kaserkrainer again, I’ll contribute, OP
That wouldn’t be the wurst idea 😂😂😂
Is this a German tradition?
Yes, but it’s also all throughout Central Europe (Czechia, Poland, Hungary, etc). Not sure abt the rest of the continent.
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Interesting thank you
You haven't started it yet.
Actually started calling around today, but it’s be for next year.
If you're serious I may be of help. Dm me.
Not something I'd be interested in. I never thought about it until now. Hopefully you find what you've looking for.
Was the Boston one that sucked at the German School in Allston?
It was the seaport one
Well, the German School in Allston (Boston) has one every year. Ive been involved in the past when my stepson went there. I have nothing to compare it to, but it was ok.
Wickfordvillage gets christmas villagyafter thanxgivn
Well there is the light festival at RW zoo and the 3 day Christmas festival in PVD.
Longjumping_Tale_574 t1_iwu8mkp wrote
I’d guess that it’s because RI is not particularly a bastion of Northern or Central European heritage. Italians and Portuguese make up the majority of the population here and have very different Christmas traditions.
Bristol does have one with some traditional-looking booths, or at least they did last year, but it was more like a church craft fair as another poster described a previous one in Pawtucket.
But I agree with you, we need one. I’ve been to quite a few wonderful ones in Europe as well. Chicago actually has an amazing one if you want to travel domestically.