Who was the inventor of the Christ Child?

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Perhaps this question strikes you as a little strange. The Christ Child an "invention"? And to whom is this idea originally attributable? - In fact, the legend of the Christ Child was conceived very consciously and for a specific purpose. A look into the past explains who this special child is, who invented it and why the legend came about.

Martin Luther is said to have invented the Christ Child.
Martin Luther is said to have invented the Christ Child.

Christ child, Jesus child or "Holy Christ"

  • The name alone seems to express itself: Perhaps you too are assuming quite logically that the figure of the Christ Child should represent Jesus Christ as a child.
  • Finally, this very special child arrives Christmas, the day on which Christians all over the world finally celebrate the birth of Jesus.
  • In fact, this Christ Child is used in other countries, e.g. B. Italy, Portugal or Hungary, also called "Little Jesus" or "Baby Jesus".
  • It is alternatively referred to as the Savior or Baby Jesus.
  • In the meantime, however, the Christ Child has developed into a completely independent symbolic figure.
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    Depending on the region, the Christ Child or Santa Claus brings ...

  • From the baby Jesus a small angel figure, mostly with blond hair and a halo, was depicted, who brings the presents at Christmas. Usually a small bell rings softly to announce the farewell to the little presenter. Then the doors to the Christmas room open and the presents can be admired and unpacked.

Who owes the idea of ​​the Christ Child legend

  • The legend of the Christ child who brings gifts on Christmas Eve dates back to the 16th century. Century and was first mentioned during the Reformation.
  • Martin Luther is said to have invented the symbolic figure of the angelic child as a counterpart to the Catholic tradition of St. Nicholas.
  • The "Holy Christian", as the child was called by Luther, however, refers less to Jesus Christ as on angel figures, which one used to see from Christmas parades or nativity plays knew

The Christ Child was "invented" as an alternative to Nicholas

  • Even in Luther's time, the Catholics venerated St. Nicholas as a gift bringer.
  • However, Luther is said not to have been enthusiastic about the Catholic veneration of saints. For this reason he tried, it is reported, to replace the Christmas presents with a new Protestant custom.
  • From this point onwards, anyone who cared about the Protestant faith would no longer distribute their gifts on March 6th. December - the day of St.Nicholas - but on December 24th. December, the birthday of Jesus Christ.
  • In Protestant households, St. Nicholas was increasingly being replaced by Martin Luther's Christ Child.
  • In the 19th In the 19th century, it became more and more popular in Catholic households. Many Protestants, on the other hand, were already sticking to a new, popular gift bringer at this time: Santa Claus.
  • Although supposedly invented by a Protestant, the blond, curly-haired baby Jesus is more Christmassy Bringer of gifts today especially in areas with a high proportion of Catholics - such as southern Germany or Austria - popular.
  • To whom the invention of the Christmas symbolic figure can actually be ascribed remains unclear. It cannot be clearly proven that Martin Luther really was the spiritual creator of the Christ Child.

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