The “Christ child” (Christkind)
The Christkind is the bringer of gifts to the
majority of Germans. The Christkind literally translated into “ Christ
child”. In Bavaria and Austria .it has an “l” added to make it
Christkindl,
In December many German cities have a special
Christmas market. Of these the Christkindklmarkt in Nürnberg (in front of
the Frauenkirche) is probably the most famous. It is said that this
market dates back to the 16th century, where many people would buy their toys..
Kris Kringle, which is well known to many people
throughout Australia and America, was the English or American way of saying
Christkindl.
The map of Germany shows the approximate
areas where the Christkind is the bringer of gifts and the areas where the
Weihnachtsmann brings the gifts. While the Weihnachtsmann can be seen by
the children, the Christkind is never seen by the children, they only hear the
bell. Many picture books contain pictures of the Weihnachtsmann, who
can look like our modern Father Christmas.
The” Christkind” is shown in various books (such
as “Unser Liederbuch für Württemberg” from the Ernst Klett Verlag in
Stuttgart) as a toddler with short curly golden hair and a heavenly glow,
wearing a white dress. In other books, the “Christkind”
has a similar appearance but is carrying a Christmas tree. Sometimes
the “Christkind” is shown alone and other times with child
angels.
Songs and poems about the bringer of gifts.
There are a number of songs which talk of the
Christkind, such as “Alle Jahre wieder”, which tells how each year the
Christkind comes to earth. The other is “Leise rieselt der Schnee”,
that has the refrain “Freue dich Christkind kommt bald” (rejoice the
Christkind will soon be here). The song “Kling Glöckchen
klingalingaling” asks the children to open their doors wide, so that the gift
bringer can come inside.
Then there is the song with words written by Hoffmann
von Fallersleben called “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann”.
Music and words for these songs as well as English
words for the first verse of “Kling Glöckchen klingalingaling” can be
obtained by contacting the author at Billanook Primary School.
Here are poems about the Christkind and the
Weihnachtsmann.
Christkindele, Christkindele
Komm doch zu uns herein!
Wir haben a Heubündele
und auch a Gläsle Wein,
a Bündele fürs Esele,
fürs Kindele a Gläsele,
und beten können wir auch
Volksgut.
(Poem from Swabia written in
the dialect of this region)
Was das Chriskindlein sagt.
Das Christkindlein bin ich genannt,
den frommen Kindern wohlbekannt.
Dir ihren Eltern gehorsam sein,
sich waschen und auch lernen fein,
die früh aufstehn und beten gern,
denen will ich vieles bescher’n.
Die aber solche Holzböck sein,
die schlagen ihre Schwesterlein,
und necken ihre Brüderlein,
steckt Ruprecht in den Sack hinein.
Volksgut.
Lieber guter Weihnachtsmann,
sieh mich nicht so böse an.
Stecke deine Rute ein,
will auch immer artig sein.
Volksgut
Lieber guter Weihnachtsmann,
schenk mir einen Kuchenmann,
nicht zu groß und nicht zu klein,
ich will immer artig sein.
Gibst du mir einen kleinen,
fang ich an zu weinen.
Volksgut
