Feature: Chicago's Germany-inspired Christmas market spreads after enthusiastic response

CHICAGO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chicago's annual Christkindlmarket, one of the most popular Christmas markets in the United States and a favorite holiday tradition since 1996, is in full swing with tourists flocking to the city for the holiday season.

Christkindlmarket's wooden huts adorned with holiday decorations draw over a million visitors each year to Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago to enjoy food and buy gifts from around the world.

"I thought (it) would be great to bring the family down and try things out," a mother from the suburb of Lansing who preferred to be identified only as Kitty, told Xinhua.

This was her first time to Christkindlmarket and she is already planning to return. "I love the potato pancakes, the German bratwurst, and I'm ... about to try one of their Pilsner beers," she said.

Along with the potato pancakes, other favorite Christkindlmarket treats like spiced nuts, Wisconsin baked cheeses, and Leberkase -- an Austrian bologna-like sandwich -- draw visitors back year after year. People endure long lines in the cold for Gluhwein, a German mulled wine served warm, and hot chocolate, both served in their own collectible mugs.

Lindsay and Rhea, two students from the Chicago suburb of Glenview, said the German strudel pastries were their favorite.

"I think it's really good to learn about different cultures, especially since there's such a high German-American population around Chicago," Lindsay said.

Visitors come to browse and buy handmade craft items from around the world, like Bavarian beer steins, wooden animal figures of all sizes, and ornaments made of glass, wood, and even eggshells.

Due to its popularity, this year Chicago opened a second Christkindlemarket with more shops and an ice rink in the neighborhood of Wrigleyville, right outside the home field of the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

Naperville, a small town in the Chicago suburb, also opened a Christkindlmarket this year.

The Christkindlmarket is inspired by traditional German Christmas markets. The original in Nuremberg, Germany, has been around since the 16th century. Many European cities also have their own Christmas markets to showcase German culture.

This year's Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza closes on Dec. 24 but will return next year in November. Enditem