Blue lights are up all across the farmers market. Fire pits glow on the sidewalks as cheerful people stand around and roast marshmallows.A small train rolls up and down the market as kids laugh while seated. Far in the corner, Santa has a child on his lap, who tells him a wish for Christmas day. A red table is set up with markers and paper, as small children crowd around writing their letters to Santa. It is just past seven, and the night has just started as the Holiday Greens and Gift Market bustles outside of Kerrytown.
There is an energy the air here, a new refreshing energy. This is the first Holiday Greens and Gifts Market, a new tradition organized by Mary Cambruzzi, owner of Found in Kerrytown. Found is one of the many shops around Community that has special events occurring during the holiday season.
Zingerman’s has many established traditions, especially when it comes to Thanksgiving.
“Most of our traditions are definitely more steeped in the foods that we serve,” Emily Hiber, Zingerman’s Next Door sales supervisor and assistant manager said. “So for Thanksgiving we really focus on typical Thanksgiving foods. We always get some heritage turkeys from a local farm, and make lots of great Thanksgiving treats that people can buy and serve at home, like pies, stuffing and cranberries, and all sorts of things like that. We always make our spiced pecans. We’ve been making those for years and years, and that’s a big holiday tradition that we only carry in November and December.”
Zingerman’s not only has traditions related to their foods, but also in their clothing too. The day before Thanksgiving and Christmas they let their employees dress up for work. This tradition has been going on for years, dating back to when the old manager first started it.
“Typically our uniforms are just our Zingerman’s t-shirts, but on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas we dress up as if we are going to a big holiday feast,” Hiber said.
Like Zingerman’s, the farmers market celebrates the day before Thanksgiving in their own special way.
“The day before Thanksgiving at the market, vendors bring in different food items to share sort of together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday,” market manager Sarah DeWitt said.
The market also has volunteers come and decorate the market in honor of the holiday season. Lights will go up along with greens and wreaths that vendors bring for people to purchase for the holidays.
Still, no one seems to get into the holiday season quite like Found. Found’s owner Mary Cambruzzi, who created the Holiday Greens and Gifts Market, shares her love of the holidays.
“At Christmas time for two months we really become a holiday store,” Cambuzzi said. “We actually close for two days and hang sleds from the ceiling and bring in all kinds of things that are both handmade and brand new items. This time of year we just layer on so many different Christmas ornaments that it’s just a fun place where you can find things in all price ranges.”
Sweetwaters may not get as into this time of year as Found does, but they have their own traditions that add to the spirit of things. They hang up lights, make different kinds of seasonal drinks and play Christmas music.
“I like the Christmas music even though I’m Jewish! I love making drinks for people. It’s really fun!” Sweetwaters’ barista Hannah Pearlman said.
Pearlman can’t really remember how these traditions first started but she mentioned some new traditions Sweetwaters might create.
“We might start making chocolate pretzels, which would be a new thing,” Pearlman said.
As a loyal Christmas lover, Cambruzzi has her store already in full on Christmas mode.
“It’s definitely my favorite time of the year. It’s kind of crazy, you know I love the display aspects of it, I love that I can help customers find unique gifts for the season, it’s definitely my favorite time of the year at the store.” Cambruzzi said. “Once the lights are up it’s all magical.”
