Christkind is a representation of Jesus as a child, developed by Martin Luther in the 16th century. It delivers presents on Christmas Eve and has similarities with Santa Claus. The tradition has expanded in Germany and Austria, where teenage girls are elected to play the Christ child during the Christmas season. Christkindlesmarkt is a popular Christmas market where Christmas items and toys are sold. The controversy over the use of Santa Claus or other figures still continues, but some cities allow the two figures to coexist during the Christmas season.
The Christkind is an alternative Christmas figure developed by church reformer Martin Luther in the 16th century. An argument of Luther and others seeking to change Catholicism was that praying to saints was a form of idolatry, and therefore strictly forbidden in many places in the Bible. The tradition of waiting for St. Nicholas to arrive and bring Christmas presents did not fit into Lutheran teaching, and Luther instead enjoined his followers to anticipate the coming of Christ.
Christkind, meaning Christ child, is a representation of Jesus as a child, not a newborn. Early forms of this figure showed a blond child with wings. Traditions have expanded the role of Christkind in parts of Germany, Austria and other neighboring countries, and local towns can now elect a teenage girl to play the Christ child for several weeks during the Christmas season. What started out as a slightly older version of Jesus has grown into a winged teenage blonde, usually adorned in white and gold.
This figure has a lot in common with Santa Claus and delivers presents on Christmas Eve. The main difference in thinking, especially in early times, was the idea that this figure was a representation of Christ. The emphasis was that it is Jesus Christ through whom all good things come, and certainly not a saint or any secular version of Santa Claus. Santa Claus and all manifestations of him were never quite gone, and the name Kris Kringle actually comes from Christkind.
The angelic symbol has especially been revived in places like Nuremberg, Germany since the end of World War II. It is from this point on that various Christkinders have been described as adolescent girls. One tradition that dates back centuries is the christkindlesmarkt, a Christmas market held annually in various cities where a large number of Christmas items and toys are sold. These markets are particularly popular, and many people come to sample food and drink, as well as shop for the season.
In such markets, a select Christianity may be present, and adults and children may both come to visit. Since World War II, she has not only come to represent the Christ child, but also to be a symbol of hope after great destruction. It also represents the very personal relationship any individual can have with Jesus Christ.
The controversy over the use of Santa Claus (St. Nick) or other figures still continues. Some cities in countries anticipating the genre of Christ are disturbed when various representations of Santa Claus are promulgated. Others allow the two figures to coexist, each with symbolic importance during the Christmas season.
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