Love and Nutcrackers at The Christmas Sleigh
year round. Along with holiday items, he stocks a back room full of gorgeous authentic clothing from ieter Rausch came to Middleburg for love. Germany, Italy and Austria, including dirndls and He stays for its sense of community. lederhosen for kids and adults. As Rausch’s beloved shop, the Christmas The shop draws tourists but also regional regulars, Sleigh, celebrates 20 years in Middleburg, its charming, some of whom drive several hours as an annual soft-spoken owner quietly serves up nostalgia and cheer holiday pilgrimage. with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. “I have clients who come every year to buy a On a crisp fall day, stepping into the Christmas nutcracker,” Rausch said. Sleigh is a soothing shot of holiday warmth, with a And nutcrackers fill the shelves with infinite cozy vibe, the smell of German holiday incense and variations, including this year’s popular “Wizard of festive tunes. Oz” themed figures. The Christmas Sleigh caters to “The first time, people look for Wow!– and the collectors with popular lines like Wilhelm Schweizer store is Wow!” he said. “This is what my customers pewter figurines with fairytale themes and Wendt & tell me. This is one unique store.” Kuhn wooden figurines featuring the brand’s popular Rausch opened the shop in 2002 with his late wife, angel orchestra. High-end wooden advent calendars let Linda Tripp, who had moved to Middleburg after gift-givers choose their own treats for each day. (Rausch her brush with fame and scandal during the Clinton recommends jewelry, but chocolate will do). presidency. Brightly colored handmade glass ornaments from “It’s a story of love,” Rausch said. Germany and Poland fill the shelves, including They met in Germany as children. Tripp’s mother a special Middleburg fox ornament Rausch had was German, and she made frequent trips to Photo by Jan Mercker commissioned in Germany. It’s always Christmas at Dieter Frankfurt to visit family. The couple rekindled their Among his personal favorites are traditional German Rausch’s Middleburg shop. romance when Rausch came to Middleburg for a visit incense burners. The Räuchermännchen (or smoking in 2000 and opened the shop in 2002, inspired by a visit to Williamsburg. men) create sweet-smelling smoke with holiday aromas and help the nutcrackers “You couldn’t find a German store in the United States like this,” Rausch said. keep bad luck at bay. It’s a blast from the past for Rausch for whom, like many of Rausch was stunned at the number of items made in China at U.S. holiday us, Christmas brings the bitter, the sweet and plenty of memories. shops. He and Tripp wanted to specialize in authentic German and European “My mother stayed weeks in the kitchen to make the Christmas stollen,” he products, and downtown Middleburg was the perfect spot. Linda Tripp died said. “When I think of [the incense], it’s the smell of Christmas.” of cancer in 2020, and Rausch keeps the shop going in her memory–and as a Details: The Christmas Sleigh is located at 5 E. Washington St. in Middleburg and celebration of his childhood in Germany. The Christmas Sleigh hits its peak season in the fall but does a bustling business open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to thechristmassleigh.com.
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By Jan Mercker
MIDDLEBURG SUSTAINABLE COMMITTEE| Holiday 2023
