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The Origin of the Christmas Angel
 
The idea of the Christmas Angel bringing presents goes back to the reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546). After he had turned away from the Catholic veneration of saints, in Luther's house, "Holy Christ" brought presents for the children.
When as a consequence of the Reformation, the presents given to children became more and more the focus of the Christmas celebrations, it was particularly in Protestant regions that the concept of the Christmas Angel started developing.
It was not so much an embodiment of the Christ child in the manger, but a grown-up figure which also took on some traits of the Angel of the Annunciation and some elements of the Virgin Mary. Still today, the Nuremberg Christmas Angel is seen as a girl-like figure. Therefore it is young Nuremberg women between 16 and 19 years of age who can take part in the election of the Nuremberg Christmas Angel every two years.
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