As the leaves have all fallen off the trees and the snow has begun to fall on the ground, everyone can feel the Christmas spirit in the air. To really channel the Christmas spirit, the Spanish Club here at Lewis Cass High School took a trip to the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, a German Christmas market filled with hot chocolate, giant pretzels, and holiday fun.
The question is, why did our Spanish club go to a German Christmas market? Mrs. Karmel, or Señora, wanted to give the members of the club the opportunity to experience different cultures around the world. The Christkindlmarkt was the perfect place to do this, as it gave everyone a chance to learn more about an unfamiliar culture, and it was only a short drive from Lewis Cass. Señora hopes that students will not only enjoy the fun break from school, but also learn about German culture around Christmas.
With a cramped bus ride there, the club members finally arrived in Carmel to the Christkindlmarkt at around noon. Stepping off the bus, people could smell the freshly made waffles and pretzels, see the beautiful Christmas decorations, and hear the holiday music playing through the speakers. Without hesitation, the students set off in search of their favorite stand at the market. Some went to buy presents for loved ones, while others made their way over to the food stands to try traditional German meals. Even though the weather was cold, the hot chocolate stand made up for it as everyone hurried over to grab a cup. Daniel Guijosa Manzano, a senior, said he was most excited to “ice skate and sip on the best hot chocolate,” as his favorite memory last year was watching all his classmates fall while learning how to skate.
Now, for everyone’s favorite part of the market, the food. Some of the most popular stands at the market were the Fischbrötchen & Pommes Frites, where everyone got french fries with a dipping sauce, the Wurst Haus, where students were able to have “Sausages served from a traditional German Schwenkgrill,” and The Walking Waffle Company, where people could enjoy a thick, homemade waffle with their choice of delicious toppings (Carmel Christkindlmarkt, 2025). Some students even bought cookies from the market and shared them amongst a group of friends. Freshman, Dane Hall said that he enjoyed the Christmas market a lot for his first time going, and his favorite part was being able to walk around with friends and try new foods. Even though everyone thought the holiday joy would last forever, the time at the Christkindlmarkt came to an end.
In the end, whether the students thought that this field trip was a trip of a lifetime or just a way to miss a day of school, it is shown through laughter and good times that every person had an amazing experience going to the Christmas market. As they hopped on the bus to finally head back to school, with a small pit stop for some, they reflected on the purchases and memories they made on the trip. Whether it was their first or second year going, each member hopes to return to the Christkindlmarkt again next school year.
