In the nineteenth century the idea of a secular Christmas Gift-Bringer spread from the United States to Europe. No more angels, Christchilds, or St Nicholases; even the frightening bestial Christmas figures like Finland’s Joulupukki got a makeover. So welcome, Father Christmas (Britain), Père Noël (France), Kerstman (Netherlands) and in Germany, der Weihnachtsmann.
The 1835 song by Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann”,(Tomorrow the Christmas Man is Coming) is still popular. Der Weihnachtsmann’s image seems to have been influenced by Austrian artist Moritz von Schwind and his depiction of Herr Winter in the 1840s.
This is my favourite image of the trudging Weihnachtsmann accompanied by an angelic figure representing the Christ Child.
