There seems to be a common misconception about Germany’s gift-giver on Christmas eve among my newly arrived foreign friends, acquaintances, and students.

It is not only Santa who brings the gifts in Germany! Additionally (and sometimes understandably so), some confuse the German Nikolaus, who brings small presents on 6 Dec, with Santa. When I prompt the question of whether they thought Santa would come twice, hence 6 and 24 December, most have a puzzled look on their face. Then it is time to clear up the difference between the Weihnachtsmann and St. Nikolaus.

A bit of history knowledge wouldn’t hurt either as the Weihnachtsmann seems to belong mostly to the former Prussia and Christkind to Bavaria, along with a couple of neighboring states.

Here in central and southwest/southern Germany, we well as in parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia,  and Hungary, it is the Christkind bearing presents for the children on Christmas Eve.

Traditionally, German families keep the tree in hiding until the afternoon of Christmas eve. The children are kept busy while the tree is secretly pulled into the home and decorated. In our childhood, seeing the tree for the first time would happen on Christmas Eve. And yes, we did have starlit eyes! I remember, along with my four siblings, trying to steal a look through the locked door to get a glimpse of the Christkind. The door would be locked so my parents could decorate the tree and arrange the presents. By the time we got called in to the living room, after asking continuously Mama, war das Christkind schon da?, we would be faced with an icy cold and bright lights. Before being let in, the window had to stay open for a certain time, as the Christkind can enter the home only that way. Well, the cold in the living room made it more believable.

Adults will approach the children after Christmas Eve, the day of our gift-giving, with: Was hat das Christkind Dir denn gebracht? (What did the Christkind get you?)

On 24 Dec, all retail (besides gas stations, fast food restaurants, etc.) close for the day in the early afternoon to let workers go home early to prepare for one of the holiest day of the year.

I like Santa, but they can keep him employed in northern and eastern Germany. Just this past weekend, a campaign to save the Christkind from Santa Claus took place in Graz, Austria. Some feel Santa’s popularity is getting out of hand here on the European continent.

This Santa was given to me as a birthday present in 1999. Steiff designed this 35 cm tall Santa Doll, as it was first illustrated by Haddon H. Sundblom for the advertising campaign of 1931. The “Coca-Cola” Santa carries in its bag, among other gifts, a small snow-white little Steiff Teddy bear made of mohair. Limited edition of this Santa: 10,000 pieces worldwide, 1999.

The following year I bought three more of the same Santa, but each with a missing sack and holding a shiny package instead of the Coke bottle. Sad to say, but these Santas were forced to let go of a few things. Those I got at a steal of a price because of the missing items as well as the lack of the original boxes.

For our family, it will be the Christkind delivering the presents. Nine more days until I open the living room window. It would be hard for Santa to come through the chimney anyway, as most German homes do not have a fire place.

Sorry, no photo of the Christkind, as nobody has ever seen it. If you do, please feel free to submit a photo!

Enjoy the season!