Christkind

Christkind.

Das Christkind (ger. "The Christ-child"), pronounced /kʁɪstkɪnt/, is the traditional Christmas gift-bringer in regions of Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, parts of Hispanic America, in certain areas of southern Brazil and in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. In Italy it is called Gesù Bambino (Italian for "Baby Jesus"), in Hungary its name is Jézuska (Hungarian for "Little Jesus"), in Slovakia Ježiško ("Little Jesus") and in the Czech Republic Ježíšek ("Little Jesus"). Promulgated by Martin Luther, explicitly to discourage the figure of St. Nicholas, it was adopted in Catholic areas during the 19th century, while it began to be gradually replaced by the Weihnachtsmann ("Father Christmas", a secularized version of Saint Nicholas) in Protestant regions.

The Christkind is a sprite-like child, usually depicted with blond hair and angelic wings. Martin Luther intended it to be a reference to the incarnation of Jesus as an infant. It is presumed by some to be so, but seems to be rooted in the Alsatian-born myth of a child bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Children never see the Christkind, as parents will always tell them that the Christkind just disappeared before they came.

Since the 1990s, the Christkind is facing increasing competition from the Weihnachtsmann in the American version of Santa Claus, caused by the ad industry which used Santa Claus as an advertising figure.

Christkindl or Christkindel are diminutive versions of Christkind. Christkind and Belsnickel are also found among communities of Volga German descent in Argentina.

Chriskindl is a pilgrimage little town in Austria, named after the miraculous wax statue of Christkind in the town church.

See also

• Kris Kringle, an Americanized pronunciation and spelling of Christkindl
• Christkindl Markt, a traditional holiday market in Austria and Germany
• Ježíšek, the same figure in the Czech tradition

External links

• Article on Anti-Santa backlash in Austria