For those who get a kick out of collecting Christkindlmarket mugs, there’s some exciting news this year: The boot is back.
For the first time in five years, the popular boot-shaped mug will be part of the 2024 souvenir collection, which was unveiled Thursday. Between swigs of imported Gluehwein, collectors can admire the market scenes that decorate the $9 black mug, which has a red interior. See if you can spot the Christkind and red-and-white booths in the painting.
All mugs and other souvenir merchandise will be available at information and merchandise booths when Christkindlmarkets kick off on Nov. 27 at Daley Plaza in Chicago and RiverEdge Park in Aurora. (With the Blackhawks playing St. Louis on New Year’s Eve at Wrigley Field in the Winter Classic, there will be no Christkindlmarket at the ballpark this year.
The boot mug is a fitting companion to Christkindlemarket Aurora’s nutcracker-themed festivities, including a scavenger hunt, said Leila Schmidt, senior manager of marketing and intercultural communication at German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.
“We get a lot of messages on social media every year,” she said. “The number-one message and comment we receive is always, ‘Bring back the boot!’ So, it was definitely time.”
Additionally, about 80% of fans taking part in a social media survey also said they hoped to see a boot-shaped mug this year, Schmidt added.
As if the shoe-shaped stunner weren’t cute enough, there’s a matching boot ornament for $43.99. Hand-painted and glass-blown in Europe, the decoration also features market scenes, as well as candy canes and a nutcracker on the exterior.
The boot-shaped Christkindlmarket ornament is part of the 2024 souvenir collection.
Provided/Christkindlmarket
Making its debut this year is a nutcracker-shaped mug designed to pay homage to the mascot of Christkindlmarket Aurora. A tall fella with the signature red suit and black cap, the $9 mug can be purchased only empty, or with non-alcoholic beverages.
The fourth souvenir was so nice, the Christkindlmarket decided to offer it twice. The popular ceramic beer stein returns for its second year. The $20 item is decorated with market scenes and a Nutcracker marching band.
The Christkindlmarket collectibles are a staple of the annual market, which drew more than 2 million visitors across all locations last year, according to the website. For those who can’t attend in person, some mugs are available for purchase at christkindlmarket.com as part of special gift boxes featuring treats and other items.
Christkindlmarket devotees expressed their excitement about the souvenirs on the market’s Instagram page; some were delighted by the matching boot mug and ornament, while others decided to just buy the entire collection.
“I can’t wait!” wrote @ivycatherinecraig. “I’ve been anticipating this announcement for weeks!”
“They all go together so well… guess I’ll have to get them all!” wrote @kjkleveland. “There’s always room for one more mug.”