Description

Many of our Christmas traditions have been adopted from German Christmas customs. As in most European countries, Germany celebrates Christmas with many religious traditions and overtones. Angels and the Christ Child play a big part in their Christmas folklore. In Bavaria, the southern part of German bordering the Alps, St. Nicholas was thought to be the message-runner. He was the one who took the children’s request to heaven while the Christ Child, or Liebes Christkind (Dearest Christ Child) actually brought the gifts to children on Christmas morning. Sometimes this Christkind had wings like an angel, other times he looked more like the little boy Jesus. The presence of this Child reminds German children that Christmas is not only for receiving gifts but also a time to give gifts to the less fortunate. St. Nicholas arrives on December 6th, his feast day. This day is the official start of the Christmas season in many European countries. The children put their shoes in front of their bedroom doors at night hoping St. Nicholas will fill them with goodies while they sleep. This stems from an old Dutch custom when children were instructed to leave out hay, straw and carrots for St. Nicholas’ horse; in the morning they would find that St. Nicholas had left them a present to thank them for their good deeds.

Collection: Reflections of Christmas

Item #: 11342

Height: 11 inches

Made of cold cast resin

Introduced in 2002