Short Stories

Christmas Market Zion

The market was a flurry of excitement. People bursting with excitement after the Thanksgiving holiday. Mothers chatting and sharing ideas. Bystanders discussing the price tags and vendors wrapping products on the fly. 

Tape, wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, gift bags, and tissue paper wisped through the air as Christmas spirit filled each person. Loaded coffee, marshmallow filled hot chocolate, hot spiced wine, and hot apple cider filled different cups warming and lifting spirits. 

It is a wonderful place to be. Children ran around with mittens and whipped cream faces. Their wide eyes reflecting all the lights on the Christmas trees and bouncing off the ornaments. Little children fascinated by the train garden set up in the little cave within the corner. 

From the train garden to the classroom, children migrated over to watch Rudolph and Frosty. Parents stopped by both to find their little ones and gather them to face the cold. The amount of blind trust is part of the collective German culture. 

While there was beer, wine, shots, and brandy being served, there was no drunk people. Each council members to turns monitoring the younger groups and double checking they were safe. While drinking culture is a strong part of German culture, drunkenness is not. Everyone watches everyone and makes sure we are all safe. 

A collective culture built to protect and help each other. A German tradition that gives protection and care. The Christmas Market along with other German traditions is a connection for immigrants to the old world. The safety to be authentically our own. A place of our own to learn our heritage and celebrate the history that makes us unique.

The food, the people, the drinks, and the Christmas spirit buzzed around everyone, and it was wonderful. 

Somewhere to be our own and where children can safely learn our traditions, our customs, our beliefs, and our normality. It is so important to pass these things on. From mother to daughter and father to son, traditions and stories need to be shared. Wisdom needs to be passed on. While we cannot live in the past, we need it to protect the future.