The Christkindl Market: All the tales and talents behind the beloved Christmas tradition (2024)

Mifflinburg, Pa. — Thousands gathered to enjoy German folklore dancing, food, music, and even comical juggling acts for Mifflinburg’s 34th annual Christkindl Market.

Now featuring more than 100 vendors, the Christkindl Market has grown exponentially since starting out in 1989 with its 20 original huts.

“The Christkindl Market is such a wonderful place!" saidlocal resident Anne Schmid. "It takes me back to our years in Munich and the markets in Germany. The food here at the market is very authentic to Germany,” Schmid said.

Schmid was born in Lithuania, lived in Munich for five years, and eventually moved to Chicago before finding a place in the small town of Mifflinburg.

“Schmid is a southern Germany family name. Not to be confused with Schmidt which derives from central Germany,” she said. “I love coming to the Christkindl Market, listening to the music, and watching the folklore dances. Music is such a key part of the German culture!”

Just after his retirement, native Austrian Rudi Skucek and his wife Joannah moved back to her hometown. The Skuceks were looking to bring German heritage to the area while also promoting the small town of Mifflinburg.

“I love how the Christkindl Market brings people together to enjoy some German heritage and celebrate the Christmas season. It is such a unique experience and people come from hours away,” said a market volunteer.

“On Friday, a father and daughter came in to Christkindl Corner hut to ask where Father Christmas would be,” continued the volunteer.

They looked at the brochure of events to find out that Father Christmas had just finished attending an event in the UCC Church.

“The father’s voice was very urgent. He explained that they had driven three hours to get a picture with Father Christmas. I made a call to another volunteer, who made another call and found out Father Christmas may still be in the UCC Church," he said.

Later that evening, the father and the daughter returned—overjoyed—to the Christkindl hut.

“The father was extremely thankful for our help and that he and his daughter have gotten a picture with Father Christmas every year at the Christkindl Market since she was born. It is stories like this that makes the Christkindl Market such a neat experience,” the volunteer said.

All of this would not be possible without the endless time and effort of the market’s volunteers.

“We are always looking for volunteers to help set up, work hours during Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and then help tear down. It is exhausting but it is well worth it,” said another volunteer.

When the market first opened in 1989, each hut had to be constructed. The roof consisted of three parts that had to be pieced together on two-by-fours. Now, organizers and volunteers are fortunate to have preconstructed huts. However, many spent hours at the beginning of the week decorating and setting up.

Each year, the Christkindl Market partners with a “sister city” in Germany. The theme city of Seiffen in southern part of the German Free State of Saxony was known, in 1324, for mining tin and silver in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). When mining became inefficient means, the citizens turned to the rich abundance of wood from the Saxon forests.

“The people of Seiffen were well known for making nutcrackers (Nussnacker), smoking men (Räuchermann), Christmas pyramids (Wiehnachtspyramide), and candle arches (Schwibbögen).” The Christkindl Market imports these collectables each year from their “sister cities,” a volunteer told NorthcentralPa.com.

“The first day, there are collectors lined up outside of our hut. We only have two smoking men left and not many nutcrackers. We also sell and ornament for our themed city for each year. It is amazing to see how many people line up to purchase our collectors’ items,” said one volunteer who works the Christkindl Market Hut each year.

“The market brings such a unique experience to our area. We love coming every year to watch Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy. His ability to perform different types of juggling acts while also cracking jokes. He really plays the crowd well. Hilby is hysterical,” a visitor to the market commented. From juggling bowling balls to riding a unicycle while juggling various items, Hilby’s humor brings waves of laughter to his audiences.

“This town makes me homesick. No, really. This market is so authentic to those markets of Germany. It is even more authentic than some of the ones in Germany,” Hilby said. “I love coming here every year to perform!”

Audiences also enjoyed folklore dances from the Alpenrose Schuhplatters and live music from the German Band, Shippensburg Blaskapelle.

“It was neat to hear them play the alphorn and watch the folk dancers. It really gives everyone the most authentic experience to the German heritage. People are always performing whether it was music or dances in Germany. It’s part of the culture, it’s what people did for entertainment,” said Schmid.

Skucek brought the first prune men (Zwetschezkenmänner) from Germany. After convincing a local Mennonite resident to make the prune men, Sarah Miller eventually took over the role in 1997.

After Miller decided to step away from the business, her niece, Becky Eshleman, took over the operation.

Prune figures originated from the Nuremburg area of Germany in the 14th century. “An old man who was very ill was cared for by his neighbor’s children. He wanted to give children something in return. As he had no money, he gathered fruits and nuts from his trees and made little puppets with wire and dried fruits. He would dress them up,” Eshleman said.

The prune figures are sold around Christkindl Markets throughout Germany. The Chimney sweep is the most popular and is said to bring "good luck." It’s considered good luck to get the soot on you, Hulday Eby, Miller's sister, explained. Other figures include farmers, maids, and hunters.

One local resident claimed he had a prune man from 2007 that was playing the trumpet.

Eshleman said, “I am on the only one in the United States to make these prune men. I have shipped them to California, Oregon, Washington, and Florida. You can follow us, Prune People on Facebook or Prune Lady on Instagram.”

Anna Angelo of The Gourd Cottage said, “It is so neat to see all these people come together to put on such a unique experience. People come from all over to experience the German Heritage. I even had Jack McGregor come into my stand to purchase my penguins made from gourds.”

Jack McGregor is responsible for bringing ice hockey back to Pittsburgh.

“He saw my penguins and began to explain his connection to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I didn’t believe him at first, but we continued talking while he ordered five penguins, one for him and each of his four children, he said. You never know what you may experience at the Christkindl Market! It is truly a one of a kind experience,” said Angelo.