The Chicago Christkindlmarket Boot is Back!

CHRISTMAS BOOT SHAPED MUG from Christmas past
CHRISTMAS BOOT SHAPED MUG from Christmas past

After a two year hiatus as a boot, the iconic Christkindlemarket mug is back in its beloved original form in honor of the market’s 20th anniversary. Over the years the boot-mug has become a Chicago Christmas tradition, often used to drink “glühwein” at the annual German Christmas market at Daley Plaza. (Glühwein is hot, spiced wine.)

The organizers of the popular market are charged with the responsibility of coming up with a new design for the mug each year. Despite the popularity of the boot shape in the past, the designers felt it would be a good change to introduce a regular mug-shaped mug in 2013 and 2014. To the relief of many, the 2015 mug has returned as a boot.

This year’s Chicago Christmas boot is innovative in other ways: Although white on the outside has been done, the red painted interior is a first.

The managing director to the Christkindlmarket, Maren Biester Priebe, says that the mugs are “quite coveted. This is a Chicago Christmas tradition.”

The market is scheduled to open on November 20th where mug-boots can be purchased for $7 each, including a warm cup of glühwein. If you want a mug before opening day, they can also be purchased on line as of November 13th, presumably without the wine.