Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

This is the last day of May, and to salute the month my blog is about Bronner’s CHRISTmas Store in Frankenmuth, MI.  That’s how the company spells it – with capitals for the first six letters.

I’d heard about Bronner’s for years, but I didn’t really know what to expect.  Here’s the truth:  Bronner’s is the largest retail Christmas store in the world, measuring about 1 ¾ football fields  or 7.35 acres in size.  That’s a lot of tinsel!  It’s also a lot of ornaments, wreathes, collectibles, stockings, trees, and nativity scenes.  For a complete rundown, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronner’s_Christmas_Wonderland.

As someone who has grown to dislike the extreme commercialism of Christmas, I expected Bronner’s to be over-the-top in crass, cheap products and pushy salespeople.  I admit the store is over-the-top in many ways, but none were crass.  The aisles were wide and clean; the displays were tasteful; the staff was helpful without being intrusive. It was pleasant.

In fact, I came away with the impression that the real meaning of Christmas and Bronner’s CHRISTmas Store have formed a mutual relationship to the benefit of both.  Founder Wally Bronner, who died in 2008, acknowledges the religious aspect of the holiday with a nativity scene under every decorated tree in the store.  There are plenty of them. Additionally, his company built a lovely chapel in the grounds to salute the hymn, “Silent Night.”  There isn’t an ornament or a stocking in it.

Given that Bronner’s is about selling Christmas products all year around, I must say I came away having enjoyed an almost spiritual experience.