December 1st, 2023, a group of Knights rode their chariot to the local Christmas market in Aurora, IL. The weather was fair. The sky was clear. The air was filled with the delicious smells of chocolate and pierogis. The sound of people laughing mingled with the faint music played by the booths.
“What is this winter wonderland?” you might be wondering. Well, it’s none other than the Christkindlmarket. This year, like any other, our school’s International Club paid a visit to this event in one of its annual field trips dedicated to experiencing other cultures. Personally, this is one of my favorite events in the whole school year. It has a heavy German influence and is a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas spirit. There are many booths filled with delicious food and beautiful, handcrafted decorative or collectable items that just make the most wonderful gifts. These items range from wood carvings, to jewelry, to handmade chocolate that comes in a variety of shapes.
If you are interested in participating in a festive event such as this one, then I highly recommend that you sign up for this club. It isn’t necessary, but it’s helpful to be on the Teams page in order to stay up-to-date. It’s super fun and filled with exciting opportunities for experiencing different cultures. For example, the first field trip this year was to Hmart. It’s an Asian supermarket with a food court. The food was amazing and just getting to walk around the store and see what was available was a real treat. It didn’t exactly have the same holiday spirit that the Christkindlmarket did, but it was another highlight of the year. Best of all, the trips are totally free! (Just make sure to bring enough money with you to purchase food and whatever you’d like.) So, make sure to bring a friend and attend these wonderful events with us!
