Paul McGehee "Christkindlesmarkt" Note Card

"Christkindlesmarkt - Nürnberg, Germany" Note Card by Paul McGehee depicts a snowy evening at the famous Christmas market which is held each year in the picturesque Bavarian city, located in southeastern Germany. The "little town of wood and cloth" (as the Christkindlesmarkt is sometimes called) is a festively-lit Christmas city where one can purchase hand-made ornaments, toys, gifts...and tiny dolls shaped like men and women made from prunes known as Zwetschgenmännle, a traditional Nürenberger Christmas treat for the children. Music is at every turn, and the air is full of the sweet smell of mulled wine, roasting almonds, bratwurst, gingerbread and Christmas punch. It is a joyous yuletide event which has been held in Nürnberg since the 1600s. Beginning just prior to Advent and continuing through Christmas Eve, the Christkindlesmarkt heralds the coming of the Christkind, or Christ Child, who is represented during the market festivities by a beautiful young woman with curly blonde hair, who arrives on the balcony of the Frauenkirche overlooking the Hauptmarkt. She is traditionally dressed in angelic white and gold robes and wears a golden crown. First made widely known throughout Germany by Martin Luther, the Christkind is supposed to represent baby Jesus as an infant. In that part of the world it is the Christkind who brings presents to the children at Christmastime, not Santa Claus or Father Christmas. As many of the world's Christmas traditions are interrelated, it should be pointed out that the character of Kris Kringle derives his name from that of the Christkind. Overlooking the marketplace is the beautiful Frauenkirche, the Roman Catholic "Church of Our Lady" which dates back to 1361. The church features an animated clock with moving figures of the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire surrounded by attendants and musicians. The clock's mechanical presentation each midday draws huge crowds in the marketplace below. The illuminated golden, 60'-tall Schöner Brunnen (beautiful fountain) which is seen off to the left was originally intended to be the steeple for the Frauenkirche when it was first constructed in 1390. However, it was thought to have been so beautiful by the townspeople that they demanded it remain at eye-level on the grounds of the marketplace and turned into a fountain. The Christkindlesmarkt is one of the major tourist attractions of Europe, and draws upwards of two-million visitors each year. Each card comes with envelope.