Now I’m truly ready for Christmas. Because I met the Nuremberg Christkind. A first encounter in town this past Tuesday was just catching a glimpse of her walking by and a quickly snapped iPhone image from the distance. Today I got up close with seventeen year old Benigna Munsi, who was elected in November for her two year term as the Christ Child of Nuremberg, during the Advent season the most important representative of the city and its traditional Christkindlesmarkt.
We met while she visited the nursing home of my Mom (thanks Dad for giving me a hint about the visit), and I was blown away by her friendliness towards the elderly, putting a festive glow in the old eyes. After seeing how kindly she treated my heavily handicapped Mom, I understand why the city is raving about our new Christkind.
The Christ Child is the symbolic figure for Christmas in Nuremberg, curled blond with a golden crown and a magnificent white and gold robe. The “Christkind” traditionally opens “his” Christmas market on the main city square in the Old Town on the the Friday before the first Advent with a festive ceremony.
The other tasks in the four-week period before Christmas include regular appearances at the famous Christmas market and the nearby children’s Christmas area. But more important are the more than 150 appointments with charitable institutions. Visits to kindergartens, nursing homes for the elderly and disabled and hospitals provide a lot of joy. Shortly before Christmas, the Christ Child also hands out presents to the little patients in Nuremberg’s children’s hospitals. Unfortunately, Big Girl, who works as a pediatric nurse, will miss the occasion as she is already off work.
There has been an annual Christkind since 1933, which was played by actresses until 1968. Since 1969, every two years a young woman from the city, who must be at least sixteen years old, is elected as Christ Child for a two year term. The preceding Nuremberg Christ Child also annually opens the Christkindlesmarkt in Chicago.
I truly hope you all are ready for the festive season as well!
Have a great Sunday!
Marcus
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What a wonderful tradition! It’s cool that your two posts have come full circle 😌
Indeed, it was fun to really meet her in the end! Thanks for reading and commenting, Cate! Marcus
Great post. Glad you got to meet the Christkind. Merry Christmas
Thanks, Angie, much appreciated! Merry Christmas! Marcus
I’m glad you were able to meet her. Traditions are such a wonderful thing.
Thanks, Amy, it means so much! Marcus
Thanks for explaining Marcus. So interesting. I had never heard of this Christmas tradition before and I love it. I think it’s actually friendlier than having a jolly old man sneaking into the house on Christmas. I bet you don’t have toddlers screaming in terror when they see the Christkind for the first time 🙂
Have a Happy Christmas – Sandy
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Sandy, much appreciated! The kids love the Christkind, I know from my own when they were little. Happy Holidays! Marcus
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Merry Christmas to you too!
Thanks, Leo, so much appreciated! Happy Holidays ! Marcus
Hallo Marcus,
wie schön, dass Du Christkind Benigna treffen und aufnehmen konntest.
Ihr Prolog zum Christkindlesmarkt war bezaubernd zärtlich und überzeugend.
Frohe Feiertage
Bernd
Hallo Bernd, ich kann deinen Worten zum Prolog nur zustimmen, es war wunderbar. Ich muss sehen, dass ich nächstes Jahr zur Eröffnung auf dem Hauptmarkt bin! Wünsche Dir und den Deinen ein frohes Fest!
Marcus
Is there an historic reason for it being a woman, or is it just one of those things?
No historic reason as far as I know. They started with a woman, and it was a woman ever since.
What a nice “follow up” to the quick shot from Tuesday! An uplifting and touching story, Marcus. Thank you so much for sharing! May your Christmas be blessed.
Thanks for your kind words, they are so much appreciated! Have a blessed Christmas yourself! Marcus
Certainly a good chance for the youth to do some good community service. Thanks for sharing Marcus. Allan
You are welcome, Allan, and thanks for reading and commenting! Marcus
What a wonderful, wonderful tradition. I love it, and thank you for explaining the tradition. How terrific (yea dad) to get the shot you thought you had missed!
Love your kind words, so much appreciated! Seasons Greetings! Marcus
Marcus – what a fun tradition and how nice that they elect someone for this post in two years terms
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And love the photo you grabbed too
Love your kind words 🙂 ! Happy Holidays! Marcus
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