Every November Chicago’s German population lays siege to the Daley Plaza to distribute their Germanic wares and spread pseudo-Christmas cheer. And every year, to commemorate the special annual undertaking, they release a one-off mug used to transport their strange streaming Bavarian spiced wine down their patrons’ gullets. We’ve gone to Christkindlmarket every year, and we like to think of ourselves as somewhat commemorative Christkindlmarket mug connoisseurs. We’re by no means authorities on the subject, but we would still like to declare with authority on this blog that this year’s Christkindlmarket mug

is their finest effort to date.

Now, a lot of people have been upset by the fact that this year’s incarnation abandoned the traditional “boot” shape of yesteryears’ Christkindlmarket mugs. To this we say: (a) das boot is best reserved for novelty beer consumption; and (b) how can you even question the shape of the mug when the art is so spectacular? I mean, look at it! It’s nothing short of life-affirming.

Let’s go in for a closer look:

The mug clearly portrays an enormous walrus mermaid queen leveling Chicago’s downtown area with her blubbery underbelly. She’s slithered up the coast of Lake Michigan and beached herself squarely on Daley Plaza as an act of political protest against municipal injustice and corruption.

This is what the geniuses at Christkindlmarket have chosen for the cover of their mug! A freaking walrus mermaid queen! Why aren’t we all doing cartwheels in the street? Forget Christkindlmarket. The mug itself is cause for celebration.

In fact, from here on out, Urban Holiday Lofts is replacing Thanksgiving with 2013 Christkindlmarket Commemorative Mug Day. Thanksgiving had a good run, but it’s time for it to bow out and make room for a new champion.

Thank you, Christkindlmarket. Please accept our humble praises and please spare us from your omnipresent walrus mermaid queen.