SEATTLE — Traditional Christmas markets in Europe date back to the Middle Ages, but you don’t need to fly to Frankfurt to experience one this year with Seattle Christmas Market taking place in Seattle Center.
Malte Kluetz is the CEO and founder of the Vancouver and Seattle Christmas Markets and grew up with the tradition in Germany.
“I missed it so much,” Kluetz said. “Obviously you can’t fly over every year. My kids never had a Christmas market experience so that kind of drove it for me.”
Traditionally at these markets there would be an appearance not by Santa, but Saint Nick who wore blue robe with a star pattern.
“For me [that was] the start of the love for Christmas markets,” Kluetz said.
In 2010 Klutz brought the Christmas markets over to Vancouver and has brought the tradition to Seattle this year, the market opened in Seattle Center on November 24 and has already had a positive response.
“The first couple of days were phenomenal,” said Kluetz. “It was just so wonderful to see all the people so excited and going through the market experience, the different activities we have and obviously the vendors, food and merchandise. It was just wonderful.”
The market also has a roster of live music performances that occur every day. To find out the schedule of performances look on The Market’s website.
Traditional wooden huts are spread across the Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain Lawn, housing more than 60 vendors offering crafts and gifts from local and international artisans.
“Most of our stuff is everything Christmas oriented and is from Germany,” Kluetz said.
A few of the gifts featured in the market include:
Nutcracker:
“Nutcrackers actually go back to the early 1900s in southern Germany when craftsmen started to build nutcrackers that work to crack nuts," said Kluetz. "Then there was this playwright about the Nutcracker and the Mouse King and that made it really popular around the world.”
Knit Hats:
"This beanie has a very cute story behind it," Kluetz said. "Christina lived in Latvia and moved to Vancouver 6 years ago. She came to the Christmas Market and had huge success with this cute beanie and scarves and this wool is lamb wool."
Crocheted Animals/Plants:
"She [The artist]decided to focus on crochet, just started 5 years ago making animals and succulents. She’s been very successful.”
Ornaments:
"Glass blowing is a tradition [in Germany] and we have a lot of great glass blowing over here in Seattle, Kluetz said. "These are traditional so obviously a tree or a hummingbird and the Christmas Pickle."
Simple Syrup:
"This is a gentleman from Pennsylvania who is farming organically and wanted to bring what we know about farm to table with drinks to bars," said Kluetz. "These are healthy for cocktails and mocktails."
There are also several traditional food options at the market including pretzels, Bratwurst, Schnitzel, roasted nuts and Stollen.
Seattle Christmas Market is open now through December 24th. For more information and the Market's hours click here.
Sponsored by Seattle Christmas Market
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.