CHICAGO — Christkindlmarket has unveiled two styles of mug for this year's open-air market, but there's not a boot in sight.
Last year, fans complained that the popular collectors' mugs — used for drinking mulled wine called Glühwein at the pop-up holiday fair in Daley Plaza — no longer featured the boot shape used all but one year since 2005.
This is the first year the market has offered two mug styles, according to the Christkindlmarket Facebook page. One is a kids' limited-edition snowman mug, which will only be sold with nonalcoholic Glühwein and hot chocolate at the Kinder Korner for kids; the other is a two-tone green mug.
Footwear-shaped drinking vessels are a uniquely German tradition, according to the website Beeriety. Though a few commenters groused on Facebook about missing the boot, most had positive responses to this year's options.
"Gorgeous!! I want them both!" one woman posted.
Christkindlmarket, a tradition since it was first held at Pioneer Court in 1996, will be open from Nov. 21 to Dec. 24 at Daley Plaza.
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