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"Christkindlesmarkt
- Nürnberg, Germany" 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. "Christkindlesmarkt - Nürnberg, Germany" is faithfully
reproduced from Paul's original color
pencil drawing as an archival quality print issued in a strictly
limited edition of only 500 pieces each hand-signed by the artist.
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