Vancouver’s annual Christmas Market is ushering in the holiday spirit with festive food and decorations, showcasing German culture.
In the heart of downtown, the market is in the plaza of Queen Elizabeth Theatre and charges a $6 entrance fee. It is open throughout the week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., until Dec. 24.
Christmas markets have been a tradition in Germany for over 700 years, bringing the community together for holiday cheer. Markets today are still a reflection of those held in the past and give families a chance to buy unique presents for their loved ones.
Malte Kluetz, president of the company Uniquely Northwest, founded the Vancouver Christmas Market in 2010. The market’s popularity has grown over the years and now hosts 45 exhibitors and had 160,000 visitors last year.
Marc Zoellner, a freelance journalist from Germany, occupies a stall selling German beer mugs at the market. Zoellner returns to Vancouver each year from November to January to visit and sell his mugs. He says that Canadians love German culture, and jokes about Vancouver’s cold and wet weather.
“I came here for experience and adventure,” says Zoellner.
The Art of Soap, locally owned, occupies a colourful stall at the market and sells fruit-shaped soaps that are hand crafted.
“Each soap takes 28 days to make, out of which 14 days are spent drying the soap,” says Alex Hillman, who works at the company and has been a vendor at the market since it opened.
Hillman says that the soaps make a lovely Christmas present because no two are alike, because they are hand made, and because the scents are derived from pure fruit extract, containing a real fruit pit.
“We only bring these in for the German Christmas Market,” says Hillman.
“I’m doing hand deliveries in a Santa costume on Christmas morning, on a Vespa that looks like a reindeer,” he says, with a glow in his eyes.
The market features a taste of Germany and Vancouverites can warm up at the market with Glühwein, a German wine that is served hot, and nibble on pretzels and schnitzel, while listening to carols performed by a high school choir.
Also reported by: Cindy St. Laurent
