Like its more famous counterpart, Santa Claus, Christkind is said to leave presents for children under the Christmas tree on the night of Christmas Eve. This is the jolly old man in red known to the world as Santa Claus. For some, Santa Claus is regarded as a symbol of American popular culture and consumerism, and his presence is seen as a sort of ‘invasion’. Supporters of Christkind argue that Santa Claus represents the spirit of consumerism, while Christkind personifies “peace, calm, hearth, home and family”, values cherished by the Austrian people. Others beg to differ, pointing out that at the end of it all, it is still about the presents, which makes Christkind no less materialistic than Santa Claus.

Source: New York Times December 24, 2021 12:51 UTC