Frankenmuth celebrates Christmas Bavarian-style
Sorry, FRANKENMUTH, MICH. >>
Mr. Disney.
At this time of year, there’s no place more magical than Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store in the Bavarian- style village of Frankenmuth, Mich.
Founded in 1945 by Wally Bronner, the massive layout is bigger than one-and-a-half football fields, filled with more than 50,000 ornaments and decorations to satisfy every fancy, all surrounded by 27 acres of landscaped grounds including a drivethrough nighttime light display, highlighted by none other than a giant 18-foot tall Santa Claus.
There’s also a handsome replica of the chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, at the site where the beloved song, “Silent Night,” was first performed 200 years ago on Dec.24, 1818.
Frankenmuth was first settled in the mid-19th century by Lutheran missionaries to central Michigan’s Native American peoples. The city’s name comes from two words. “Franken” represents the Province of Franconia in the Kingdom of Bavaria where settlers came from. The German word “mut” means courage. So the name Frankenmuth means “Courage of the Franconians.”
The Bavarian atmosphere, architecture, and craftsmanship are prevalent everywhere — in quaint shops, a long covered wooden bridge, and a tall outdoors glockenspiel. Its magnificent 35-bell carillon alerts crowds that another performance of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” is about to begin, as mechanical figures come to life high overhead.
A unique Christmas custom is found at almost every site throughout town. The central feature of the high- ceilinged lobby of the Bavarian Inn Lodge is an upside- down, 20-foot-tall Christmas tree.
The practice dates to the 12th century, when the triangular shape of fir trees was used to represent the Holy Trinity. German immigrants brought the custom with them to America.
But the town’s most popular attraction might very well be the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, world famous for its hearty chicken dinners, breads, pastries and a wide selection of German beers. The walls of spacious dining rooms are adorned with Bavarian scenes and pictures of German-themed fairy tales.
Meanwhile, accordion player Linda Lee, dressed in Bavarian costume, goes from table to table making sure each customer has a smile.
When it’s time to warm up, after shopping at the Zehnder’s Marketplace, enjoy some exciting aquatic fun at Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Indoor Water- park.
It’s no wonder that Time Magazine recently named Frankenmuth one of the 10 most Christmassy towns in America.
For information go to https:// www.frankenmuth.org/thingsto- do/.