The Metamorphisis of the Christkind from baby Jesus to an angel.

   All around the world parents tell their children that their presents are brought by a mythical figure whose powers include knowledge of one's behavior and the ability to transverse the globe (or at least the country) in a single evening or night. This figure varies in appearance from land to land but basically fulfills the same purpose, to create an outside source of gifts. Growing up in the US it was Santa Clause, also known as St. Nick, that jolly image created by coca cola, who crosses the sky in a reindeer-pulled a sled. In Italy, it is a Christmas witch, Bafana, and here in Austria, The Christkind- an angelic blond haired young, female apparition with wings and either a crown or halo.

Old Christmas cards in a shop window- the top shows the childlike Christkind of yesteryear

 But wait, doesn't christkind literally mean, 'Christ child'? When the christkind comes isn't it the birth of Jesus on the night of Christmas Eve? Where does the angel come from? and why is it female?

In order to answer these questions, I had to go back to the history of the development of the christkind as a popular figure. I was surprised to learn that it actually has its beginnings with Martin Luther, who in his abolition of the adoration of saints changed the giving of gifts from the 6th of December to the 25th of December to align it with the birth of Christ rather than the advent of St. Nicolaus- Bishop of Myra, now in Modern day Turkey. In so doing his aim was to remove such popular figures from current custom and bring the attention back to the birth of Jesus. But people being what they are they soon began attributing the Christ child with the physical act of the bring of gifts, a tradition which lasted well into the early twentieth century. At first, this tradition was primarily protestant but the Catholic church became enamored with the Christkind and in time adopted it in addition to St. Nikolo leading to the continued celebration of both festivals in central Europe.

While working as an English Native Speaker in the primary school in Judenburg, a small town near my husband's hometown, I read several Christmas poems that had been posted on the board for the enjoyment of the children during the weeks leading up to Christmas. A few of them dealt with the subject of the Christkind, and I was surprised to read lines that went something like, 'a small child walked with bare feet through the forest, his bare feet freezing while the branches tear at his thin clothing, his bag is so heavy that he can barely pull it with his raw hands, and so on'. Having only seen the Christkind in its Angelic form, this reference surprised me. The poems were not that old, many stemming from the early 1900s.

    It appears that the Christmas markets have played an important role in the transformation of the Christkind. In Nuernberg there is a contest to choose the annual Christkind, blond girls 16 to 19 years old can apply, 12 are then selected to compete against each other and finally, a Christkind is chosen and crowned. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a royalty free image of a modern Christkind. But if you type the word, 'Christkind' into Google many images will appear.

    So my question is, who brings the presents in your Country and home? Is it you or is it the Christkind, Nikolo, or someone else? Maybe you don't celebrate Christmas but have a figure who gives gifts on other occasions. I would love to hear about it in the comments.

And don't forget about the Draw With Me challenge, It ends January 6th. I am looking forward to seeing the results.




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