Christkindlemarkt

I quite possibly looked like the biggest idiot on the face of the planet: clutching my warm mug of Amaretto-Punsch with a constant, huge, silly, goofy smile playing on my face. My eyes must have been huge--drinking in the whole scene. The lights!! They sparkle, they twinkle, they run, jump, and fly through the trees, the huts, thee angel-shaped figurines hanging in the sky. There are heart lights and ornament lights: there are lights that look like falling snow and lights that look like icicles. they cover castles and archwasy and Christmas trees and real trees.

There are huts--kiosks lining the plaza between the Burg Theatre and the Rathaus. They are selling everything. There are selling lollipops and cotton candy, punch, stuffed animals, toys, incense, beautifully handpainted ornaments, wood carvings, crafty knick knacks, food, hats, scarves, gloves, crazy candles, Vienna souvenirs, incense, jewelry, purses, and so much more!!

There are children laughing and jumping and pointing at the stuffed tiger they not-so-secretly hope Santa will bring them. There are smiles and laughter all around: it sounds cheesy, but it's really incredible.

My magical castle is lighting up again: brilliant colors of blue and red and green and pink and yellow and white. It's lullaby is a sweet German song--I can only understand pieces, but I know it's peaceful. It's transformed to a more 'rock & roll' feel, but the tune is the same. Christmas music plays to light up the park and people's faces and children's hearts.

I'm not usually mushy at Christmas time: it must be the growing homesickness. But there is nothing close to a Viennese Christkindle Markt in the States--there are malls. There are department store and for the love of God...we do most of our shopping online anyway. If we go out, you are more likely than not to experience the rudeness and pushiness of the holidays more than you will the 'Can I help you?'s and the 'No, please, after you's and a 'Merry Christmas' with any sort of heart behind it. And even though I don't understand all of the words that are flying through the cold evening air here at this Market in Vienna, I feel Christmas.

And for the first time in a while, I feel content about every piece of my life, and for a moment, despite the homesickness, there is no place on earth I'd rather be than warming my hands on a mug of punch and feeling happy.