Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Sons of Norway Marsteinen Lodge
The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.
Decorating for their fourth year, SoN will treat us to a “Red, White, and Blue” tree representing the countries of Norway, United Sates, and Canada, where lodges are located. The decorations are mostly handmade and will include natural materials, wooden ornaments, Rosemaled ornaments, garden materials and treated paper ornaments.
Sons of Norway has been in existence for 126 years and the Marsteinen Lodge, located in Des Moines, has been around for 37 of those. They are dedicated to keeping the Norwegian culture alive and membership consists of those with Norwegian ancestry and anyone who has an interest in the culture. Christmas is the highlight of Norwegian winters. Before December 25th many towns have a Christmas market, special parties and concerts. These activities unify the communities and families with a strong tradition of special foods, music, dances, decorations, even the animals are included. The Marsteinen Lodge usually has a potluck dinner at the December meeting followed by singing and dancing around the Christmas tree. The children attending are treated to a visit from the Nisse bringing small gifts.
Silent Auction funds will be used to aid other nonprofit organizations in the community.
If you would like to bid on the “Red, White, and Blue” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at www.event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.
For more information Sons of Norway, Martsteinen Lodge, please visit their website.
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Serving Hands, Inc.
The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.
Decorating for their first time, Serving Hands, Inc. would like to encourage everyone to open your hearts to the world with “Loving Kindness.” Ornaments with inspirational messages remind everyone how important it is to show loving kindness in a divisive world. The tree ornaments symbolize nature with pine cones and wooden ornaments reflect the serenity that nature provides.
Since its inception in December 2018, Serving Hands, Inc. has provided 1077 meals, donated 837 hygiene items, and provided financial assistance to individuals, families, and organizations in need. As a volunteer led nonprofit, people from all walks of life serve others by providing food, personal hygiene, and financial assistance to those in need.
The holidays mean hope, love, kindness, and giving. Serving Hands, Inc hopes to impact and enrich people’s lives during this season and beyond by using the funds from the Silent Auction to further their work in the community.
If you would like to bid on the “Loving Kindness” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.
For more information the Serving Hands, Inc., please visit their website.
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Iowa Genealogical Society
The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.
Returning for a second year, Iowa Genealogical Society wants to celebrate an anniversary with CDM! “Blast from the Past” will be a 1950’s theme marking 2022 as the 72nd anniversary of the 1950 US Federal Census. This is an important occasion to genealogists because it means the population tables from the 1950 census will be released for use by genealogists and the general public.
The Iowa Genealogical Society was founded in 1965 with a mission to foster an interest in genealogy and aid others in researching their family history. The holidays are important and facilitate many occasions for families to gather and share their roots.
If you would like to bid on the “Blast from the Past” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at www.event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.
For more information the Iowa Genealogical Society, please visit their website.
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Danish Sisterhood
The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.
The Danish Sisterhood in America Lodge 102 has returned for their second turn at decorating a tree, and it won’t disappoint! “Handmade Heritage” will evoke a feeling of Denmark when you gaze upon this tree filled with Danish woven baskets, cones, and sneaky little Nisse who like to hide in peoples’ homes and cause mischief. Through a lot of skill, the members of the Danish Sisterhood have also created a showstopping star to top off the tree.
The Danish Sisterhood national organization was started in Michigan in 1883. Many Danish people were immigrating to America and found themselves in need of help. The Sisterhood was built as a support to those Danes that needed a helping hand both financially and emotionally. Lodge 102 was a “rebirth” of a lodge that disbanded then restarted in the early 1900’s.
The mission of the Danish Sisterhood is to preserve and strengthen the Danish culture in the community. In addition, they adhere to the principals of support by helping sisters in need.
The money raised in the Silent Auction will be used in service to other organizations including the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa. The museum is archiving and cataloging artifacts reaching back the late 1800’s from Danish Sisterhoods across the United States. The Sisterhood also supports The Ronald McDonald House, Dorothy’s House, and the Food Bank of Iowa.
If you would like to bid on the “Homemade Heritage” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.
For more information the The Danish Sisterhood of America, please visit their website.
Silent Auction Tree Blog Feature: Beginnings Preschool at Ankeny First United Methodist Church
The Christkindlmarket Des Moines Silent Auction has returned this year with ten local non-profits to support while enjoying the market experience.
Making their first appearance in the Silent Auction is Bright Beginnings Preschool at Ankeny First United Methodist Church. With a nod to a Christmas classic, “Silver and Gold” will give you all the feels as you take in the love and excitement used to create these ornaments crafted by the two, three, four and five-year-olds currently attending the preschool.
Bright Beginnings Preschool was opened in 1964 by a church member that saw a need for early childhood education in the Ankeny community. The preschool programs provide opportunities for a child to realize his or her own potential as a two, three, four or five-year-old person. Each program is specifically structured for the developmental age level of the child enrolled. Cooperative planning ensures that the programs complement each other.
Since play is the foundation of child development, the preschool plans for and recognize its value. The Silent Auction funds will go to replace and supplement many of the manipulatives and classroom tools/furniture. Working with young children means things get loved all day, every day and need to be replaced.
If you would like to bid on the “Silver and Gold” tree, visit Christkindlmarket Des Moines December 2nd-5th. Bidding is available via text and online at www.event.gives/cdm2021 starting December 2nd at 5pm.
For more information Bright Beginnings Preschool, please visit their website.
Dueling Fiddles | #CDM2021 Performer
Tell us about your group
The Dueling Fiddles consists of two violinists, Hanna Wolle and Genevieve Salamone. Formed in 2016, Hanna and Genevieve first met as stand partners in the Des Moines Symphony. Their shared love of music led them to form the Dueling Fiddles. Over the past 5 years, this dynamic group has had the opportunity to share their music with communities and fans across the Midwest.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We are most looking forward to getting into the holiday spirit! We are working on several new holiday arrangements and releasing a holiday EP that we will debut at Christkindlmarket Des Moines.
What’s your favorite thing about performing at events like this?
Our favorite part about performing at events like this is the opportunity to share our music with festival attendees. Having people dance at our shows and enjoy our music is the reason why we do what we do.
Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums of Iowa | #CDM2021 Performer
Tell us about your group
“The band was founded by Thomas S Coulson, a distinguished piper, who served during World War II, as a pipe major with the Essex Scottish 4th Brigade of Canada and as a piper in the Seaforth Highlanders,” explains Dawn Baldwin, the organization’s representative.
“He moved to Newton, Iowa and founded the Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums about the mid ’70’s. We are a paramilitary pipe and drum band and our uniforms are steeped in traditional attire worn both on Scottish and American soil. Our tartan is Ancient Mackenzie.”
The Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes and Drums, currently 11 members in size, represent the Greater Des Moines, Iowa metro area. Their primary mission is to support Active and Reserve Military Units, Law Enforcement Agencies and Fire Departments and regularly perform at the events that support these agencies.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We’re really looking forward performing at Christkindlmarket Des Moines. It’s a fun, unique family event, and we’re looking forward to seeing the smiling faces again. The volunteers, facilities and location are top notch. We’re very honored to play at this event.
If you’re interested in learning to play please visit our web site or find us on Facebook.
Heartland Youth Choir | #CDM2021 Performer
Tell us about your group
Cantilena Choir is one of six choirs at Heartland Youth Choir. This year, our enrollment is 28 students! Heartland Youth Choir is in its 19th year.
What are you most looking forward to at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?
We are looking forward to performing for a live audience. After last year, any chance we get to share our music is important to us. Families of our singers look forward to the fun they have after we are done performing and can enjoy the market.
What’s your favorite thing about performing at events like this?
Cantilena choir, families, and musicians love performing at Christkindlemarket Des Moines. We love the atmosphere that it provides, and the family time we spend after we perform walking around the festival.
Yuletide Hall Entertainment
Thursday, December 2, 2021
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen are based out of Mt Vernon, IA and have been performing all over the country for 31 years. We play polkas, waltzes, big band, old country and party songs! We like to have fun and hope you do too!
Friday, December 3, 2021
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen are based out of Mt Vernon, IA and have been performing all over the country for 31 years. We play polkas, waltzes, big band, old country and party songs! We like to have fun and hope you do too!
4:00 pm – 5:00pm – Top Hat Carolers Carolers in Victorian garb. Traditional to contemporary Christmas carols.
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm The Jim Kucera Band has been performing since 1984. The group has not only performed in Iowa and Nebraska, but throughout the Midwest. The group has 5 recordings on CD, one of which (Play A Polka Daddy), was featured in the Polka Countdown top 10 recordings in 2001. The group specializes in all styles of polka music, and enjoys playing many Oktoberfest celebrations each year throughout the Midwest.
Saturday, December 4, 2021
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm – MacKenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums Bagpipes and drums
1:00 pm – 1:20 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss German-Bavarian & Austrian Folk Dancing
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Heartland Youth Choir Our singers will provide choral music of the holiday season. Our selections will include traditional Christmas tunes as well as lesser known melodies including those from other countries. Our singers will be the ages of 2nd-4th grade.
2:45pm – 3:15pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Foy School of Traditional Irish Dance Celebrate Irish culture with the Foy School of Irish Dance. The revelry includes delightful traditional dances and contemporary choreographed numbers that both enchant and entertain!
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
5:15 pm – 5:30 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Malek’s Fishermen Band European Dance Music
Sunday, December 5, 2021
11:30 am – 12:10 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
12:15 pm – 2:15 pm – The Metro Brass Quintet performs a fun variety of music from polkas to jazz and has been entertaining the Des Moines metro since 2014.
2:30 pm – 3:10 pm – Schuhplattler Gruppe Edelweiss SG Edelweiss, the award winning Bavarian dance group from St. Paul, MN, will perform traditional German and Austrian folk dances.
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Dueling Fiddles The Dueling Fiddles are an energetic and engaging performance group that mix the rich sounds of the violin with layered accompaniment for fun shows that audiences of all ages will enjoy. We perform a variety of music, ranging from World folk music to fiddle to modern pop covers. We performed at Christkindlmarket Des Moines in 2019, and we received so many wonderful compliments from the crowd that they loved our show and music. We would love the opportunity to come back in 2021!
Iowa European Cultural Connection connects Iowans with European traditions, language learning and cultural experiences.
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What is Feuerzangenbowle?
We enjoy bringing European culture to Christkindlmarket Des Moines!
We’re featuring a Feuerzangenbowle mug in An der Weihnachtsecke (Christkindlmarket Des Moines store). A rum-soaked sugar cube sits over the handle. Once lit, the caramelized sugar flows straight into your Glühwein!
Feuerzangenbowle is a traditional German alcoholic drink in which a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into mulled wine. It is often part of a Christmas or New Year’s Eve tradition. The name translates literally as fire-tongs punch. Our Feuerzangenbowle mug allows for a single serving of this holiday tradition!
Feuerzangenbowle (click here for a recipe) is prepared in a bowl, similar to a fondue set, which usually is suspended over a small burner (rechaud). The bowl is filled with heated dry red wine spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and orange peel, similar to mulled wine. The Feuerzange was originally a pair of tongs, but nowadays it is common for a purpose-designed metal grate mounted on top of the bowl to hold the Zuckerhut (sugarloaf), a 250-gram (9 oz) lump of sugar. The sugar is soaked with rum and set alight, melting and caramelizing. More rum is poured with a ladle until all the sugar has melted and mixed with the wine. For some the ceremony is more important than the drink itself, celebrating the gathering of friends and conveying a notion of Gemütlichkeit.