Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. First thing in the morning we would watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while getting ready for our feast. One of us always had an eye on the tv and would shout to the others in the kitchen if something special was about to happen. Tom Turkey, Snoopy, the marching bands, or the Rockettes with their precision and flawless kick lines. I was too short to ever be a Rockette but a girl can dream. The holidays officially started when the real Santa would close the parade waving from his sleigh!
We had a small kitchen with a lot going on. The pasta sauce was simmering on the stove for hours. My mom would have us name the turkey before she put it in the oven. The turkey was out of obligation but the main course was ravioli, meatballs, and sausage. Every shelf in the refrigerator was taken by mom’s homemade apple, pumpkin, and lemon meringue pies and my favorite, graham crackers and chocolate pudding. It was like a chocolate pudding lasagna. Three layers of graham crackers with Kosto chocolate pudding filling between each layer.
As I got older and everyone had moved out of the house my mom and I would start the day with the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls feeding the homeless. We would go to mass at Old Saint Pat’s church and then catch the parade on State Street. My father would stay home and prepare the feast. My mom, trying to get out of the work, would keep us out until she thought everything was finished.
This year we’re looking forward to the day after Thanksgiving. Chicago is such a beautiful city but when you add the holiday spirit and the decorations it turns magical. If you ever find yourself in Chicago during Thanksgiving weekend you can follow our Friday fun list.
#1. Christkindlmarket Daley Plaza
We like to get here early because it tends to get overly crowded later on. However, if you don’t mind the crowds, the market is beautiful at night with all of the lights and it’s festive Christmas tree.
The Chicago Christkindlmarket started in Daley Plaza in 1996. It’s been said to be the most authentic German market in the United States. It’s nestled in the heart of the loop. The Picasso overlooks the temporary holiday village surrounded by skyscrapers.
Timber Haus and Timber the Tent
Visit the heated Timber Haus tent. It offers German hot spiced Glühwein served in the annual collectible mug or a German beer. You can also purchase the dancing penguin mug that is served with non-alcoholic drinks. Leave the server a tip and they’ll ring the cowbell. It’s a lively room lined with wooden picnic tables. We usually squeeze into an open seat and end up making fast friends with a group of strangers.
Frank’s Ornament House
Our next stop is Frank’s Ornament House. There’s usually a line to get in. When you enter the cabin they will hand you a shopping basket and you’ll need to follow the flow of shoppers around the displays. If you see something you like, add it to your basket. It will be hard to wander and go back to something. It gets difficult to swim upstream with that many people. There is the largest assortment of glass ornaments that I’ve ever seen. Everyone that I’ve talked to working in this tent speaks German. It makes me feel like I’m on vacation.
I was looking at the Christkindlmarket website. Frank’s has a history section and it said that the glassblowing shops in Germany started in 1597 in the town of Lauscha, near the Thuringian Forest. In 1847 Lauscha was recognized as a world leader in the blown-glass Christmas ornament business.
Annual Collectible Ornament
This year a collectible Christkindlmarket ornament is being sold by vendor Dom ITP. Each ornament is hand blown and painted in Poland. These ornaments are truly one-of-a-kind and required countless hours of craftsmanship to create. Each piece is a unique work of art. The ornament shows a scene of the Chicago skyline on a starry night overlooking the market with its Christmas tree. There will be a limited number sold so look for these early.
Have you ever heard of a pickle ornament? You will see many pickle ornaments here. I heard it was a German tradition. If someone can locate the hidden pickle ornament in the Christmas tree, they will receive an additional gift. I searched Google to learn more and found out that 90% of Germans who were in a poll had never heard of it.
Krampus
One of the strangest things you’ll see are decorations of a scary devil. What the….? I had to look up the history of who this was. His name is Krampus, the Christmas Demon. German folklore tells us that he would join Saint Nicolas to visit the children. The “Nice” children would get a gift. The “Naughty” children would be punished by Krampus.
The Market
There is so much to see! Circle through the market to shop the handcrafted gifts. I love to see the designs on the beer steins, handmade wooden clocks, beautiful linen and lace doilies, table runners, more ornaments, alpaca wool socks, knitted caps and gloves, and much more.
I really enjoy visiting the BearHands and Buddies booth. They have a wonderful collection of animal-themed mittens, hats, and scarves. I discovered them at the Brighton Parks market in New York and have been a fan ever since.
Bring a toy or buy one there to donate at the Toys for Tots drop-off.
I always make a stop at the St. Roger Abbey booth. The booth is managed by a group of French nuns. You can find them at most farmers’ markets around the Chicago area. The chocolate croissants are heaven!! …get it?
The booth at the Christkindlmarket offers more than their usual display of pastries and bread. They also have holiday gifts, nativity scenes, and other items.
I enjoy using this opportunity to practice my French speaking skills. It’s always a pleasant surprise when I can successfully order what I want!
Here’s a bit about them from their website:
https://www.strogerabbey.org/come-to-our-stores/
It’s very easy to eat your way through the market. Share a paper cone of hot roasted nuts. Sample an assortment of baked cheeses. Get in line for an order of potato pancakes, bratwurst, sauerkraut, hot pretzels, or anything else German you have a taste for.
This location was the site of the annual Chicago Christmas tree lighting ceremony for many years. It was moved to Millennium Park in 2012.
Here is a link to the market’s website if you’d like more information:
https://www.christkindlmarket.com/
#2. Palmer House Hilton Hotel
Next, we try to make our way to the Christmas tree in Millennium Park. It’s usually very cold in November so we’ll take a shortcut through the Palmer House. There is a walkway through the building from the State Street entrance to Wabash Street.
While you’re there take a walk up the steps to enjoy the decorations and Christmas tree in the Great Lobby. You’ll undoubtedly gaze upwards at the majestic ceiling. Spanning the length are 21 canvas paintings portraying scenes from Greek mythology.
The Palmer House has been open for over 150 years. I learned that it was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire 13 days after it first opened. It reopened 2 years later and is one of the longest-running hotels in the United States. It is rich in history.
The Lockwood
Have a seat at the Lockwood bar. They’ll be serving Holiday Bloody “Merry’s”.
If you are still feeling hungry after indulging in German cuisine, The Lockwood restaurant can be a great option. If you’re looking for a delicious treat, you may want to try their famous chocolate brownie which is available for purchase at the Grab and Go cafe. This delectable delight comes wrapped in a ribbon and makes for a wonderful gift or souvenir.
If you happened to be in town in mid-December check the Palmer House event schedule.
In December, a yearly concert called Tuba Christmas takes place where tuba players from around the world come to perform Christmas carols. You’ve never seen anything like it!
https://www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com/holiday-happenings/
#3. Marshall Fields, now Macy’s Department Store
Walking up State Street you’ll see the Marshall Field’s Great Clock and the holiday trumpets lining the facade of the building. What a sight. As children, we used to visit downtown to admire the Christmas windows. Every department store had decorated windows with a different theme. However, when Macy’s purchased the company, we weren’t sure what would happen to the annual holiday windows. Thankfully Macy’s has kept the tradition alive.
The Window Display
The windows have been decorated for more than a century. During the 1940s, the character Uncle Mistletoe was introduced along with his partner, Aunt Holly. Uncle Mistletoe wore a red top coat and a black top hat. He had white wings and flew around the world teaching children kindness at Christmas.
I’ve never heard of him but after doing some digging I found that Uncle Mistletoe had his own TV show, his own Christmas song, and you can still find vintage merchandise of the characters being sold online.
Santa
When you’ve had a chance to enjoy the animated windows step inside to witness the beautiful decorations and displays in every department of the store. You can also book a reservation online to visit Santaland located on the 5th floor to snap some photos with Santa Claus.
Visit the holiday department where you can buy all of your Christmas ornaments and decorations. There are dozens of decorated Christmas trees displaying the ornaments for sale.
The Walnut Room
Make your way to the Walnut Room to see the 115th Great Tree, a 45-foot evergreen that towers over the dining room. There is a selfie station for all visitors to take a picture with the tree. You’ll need a reservation if you’d like to be seated. They have a special holiday menu. Build-your-own Snowman ice cream sundae is a favorite. If you’re looking for a festive variety of holiday cocktails to choose from, some options include The Poinsettia, The Kris Kringle, Uncle Mistletoe’s Hot Whisky Cider, and Frango Irish Coffee.
The famous Mrs. Herring’s chicken pot pie is the star dish of The Walnut Room. The story behind this dish dates back to 1890 when Mrs. Herring was employed at Marshall Fields. A customer, dissatisfied with the limited dining options in the area, was kindly offered Mrs. Herring’s homemade chicken pot pie. The dish was so impressive that the customer started bringing her friends to the store for lunch. In response, Marshall Fields opened a small tea room which eventually was replaced by the infamous Walnut Room. Today, the dish still holds its charm. The Walnut Room remains the oldest restaurant in a department store.
I can only remember dining in the Walnut room once. My family waited in the long line for an open table since making reservations wasn’t an option back then. My older brother went up to the maitre d’ and gave him a Chicago handshake (a tip). As a result, we were instantly moved from the back of the line and promptly seated.
Frango Mints
If you only buy one thing in the store, it should be a box of Frango Mints. You can find boxes of various sizes and flavors showcasing Chicago scenes on the lids. I prefer the originals. The design of the original box was inspired by the distinctive dark green gift boxes from Marshall Fields.
From 1929 to 1999, Frango Mints were made on the 13th floor of the State Street store. The corporate owner Dayton Hudson gave the production contract to Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Pennsylvania and closed the candy kitchen letting go of all of the employees. The citizens of Chicago were heartbroken, prompting Mayor Richard Daley to advocate for the local production of chocolates. In 2017, Garratt’s Brands assumed responsibility for producing Frango Mints.
Chicago residents were opposed to Macy’s acquisition of Marshall Fields. There are still people who won’t shop in the new Macy’s department store and others who picket to try to keep anything else from changing. I had asked my sister how she felt when we lost the beloved Marshall Fields, and she replied, “Betrayed”. She and her friend even had a ceremony and cut up their Marshall Fields credit cards together.
#4. Christmas Tree at Millennium Park
Time to visit the Christmas tree! The city has had a Christmas tree for over 100 years. Years ago they would bind several trees together to create the illusion of a larger tree. In the Chicago area, residents submit their trees from their properties to be considered as the official Christmas tree. The lighting ceremony used to be at Daley Plaza with a choir singing Christmas carols. The lighting festivities are now near the Bean with DJs and fireworks.
Ice Skating
Ice skating with the Chicago skyline in the distance is the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. There is a free ice skating rink under the Bean and skating on the Maggie Daley Ribbon. Skate rentals are available and there are free lessons on the weekends.
https://millenniumparkfoundation.org/programs/winter-ice-skating/
Thank you for your interest in our downtown holiday tradition. You can visit these events throughout the season. There are an endless amount of ways to entertain yourself in Chicago. Enjoy every minute!