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Nikolaus (Santa) and Christ Child: Who brings the gifts?

December 6th is Saint Nicholas Day, the commemoration of Saint Nicholas of Myra, a bishop who lived in Asia Minor in the 4th century. Nicholas was known for his charity and dedication to the poor and needy. After his death, he was canonized, and his feast day was introduced in the Catholic Church.

In the Middle Ages, in some regions of Europe, there was a custom of distributing gifts on the evening of December 24th. However, this custom was not associated with St. Nicholas but with the Christ Child. The Christ Child was considered a heavenly messenger of Christmas and was regarded as the bearer of gifts.

In the 16th century, Protestants began to oppose the veneration of saints by the Catholic Church. This also affected St. Nicholas, who was venerated as a Catholic saint. Luther himself was a staunch opponent of saint worship, considering it a form of idolatry and a violation of the biblical command to turn only to God.

In his Christmas sermon of 1531, Luther criticized the veneration of St. Nicholas and urged Protestants to celebrate the Christ Child instead. He referred to the Christ Child as "an innocent child" and "a true child of God."

Luther's sermon had a significant impact on the Protestant tradition. In the following years, the custom of distributing gifts on the evening of December 24th became increasingly associated with the Christ Child. St. Nicholas was gradually pushed into the background.