WADENA — It doesn’t get any more German and festive than this.
Oma’s Bakery and Restaurant’s Weihnachtsmarkt returns 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at 10 Aldrich Ave. in downtown Wadena. The traditional German Christmas market is a holiday favorite at the family-owned bistro with European-style pastries and bread.
“It’s an outdoor Christmas market and we’ll have German baked goods, authentic German gifts and cookies and we’ll have a few meals available,” said Yvonne Strom, head baker and manager at Oma’s Bakery and Restaurant.
Strom is the daughter of Martin and Annette Schmidlin, owners of the establishment. She said she was a foreign exchange student who eventually settled in Bertha, and her parents immigrated to the area to join her.
Michael Johnson / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Glühwein is among the authentic German goods that will be offered at the Weihnachtsmarkt. The mulled wine or spice wine is a traditional drink during winter and is usually served at Christmas markets in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Nordics and eastern France.
“It does have alcohol,” Strom said. “And it’s usually served during Christmastime and hot.”
A traditional Weihnachtsmarkt is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent, according to Wikipedia, and these markets originated in Germany but are now held in many countries.
“We will have Christmas cookies – authentic Christmas cookies – and we’ll have some chocolate,” Strom said of the popular Weihnachtsmark at Oma’s in Wadena.
About 45% of Minnesotans said they had ancestors from either Norway, Denmark or Sweden compared to 55% who said they had ancestors from Germany, according to an American Community Survey.
“There’s actually more Germans here than you think,” Strom said. “There’s quite a few.”
Frank Lee / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Oma’s has progressed over the years from Annette Schmidlin (Oma) and her daughter first selling baked goods at farmers markets to opening a bakery and restaurant. It’s now an established cornerstone of the community with an expanded building and food offerings.
Cooking professionally has been a part of the Schmidlin family for many years. Customers can expect traditional German cooking in a relaxing atmosphere.
“People like that it’s not the ‘same old, same old’ things. It’s not pizza, it’s not burgers, it’s not steak,” Strom said of customers. “And a lot of them have been stationed in Germany, so they come here and like ‘I remember that from being stationed in Germany,’ so that’s nice to hear.”
Brian Hansel / Wadena Pioneer Journal
The most recent progress made here was the move of Martin Jr. Schmidlin and his family to Minnesota from Germany. He is the son of Annette and Martin Sr., and the brother of Strom.
Strom said last year’s Weihnachtsmark at Oma’s attracted more than 200 people.
“We do invite other vendors if they want to sell their crafts – the Boy Scouts come with their Christmas trees – so anybody who wants to sell something is welcome to join us,” Strom said.
In many towns in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Weihnachtsmarkt, according to Wikipedia, and traditionally held in the town square in open-air stalls and accompanied by traditional singing and dancing.
FRANK LEE is the features writer for the Wadena Pioneer Journal. He may be reached at 218-631-6470 or at
.
I cover the community of Wadena, Minn., and write features stories for the Wadena Pioneer Journal. The weekly newspaper is owned by Forum Communications Co.
