The Stamp Art Liechtenstein Christmas presentation – Full Sheets Sg 869-872 – MINT. The showcase presents an infomative and educational review of Liechtenstein Postage Stamp issues which are unique in their display of story telling, presented in Artwork Layouts with a selected number of ‘Limited Edition’ Fine Artwork prints available for sale in the Stamp Art Gallery Shop.
Dear brothers and sisters!
1. As the festively gathered Church of Christ, we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary today. The liturgy invites us to give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity; for the mother of our Savior is born, “whose holy life illuminates the whole Church” (“Antiphona ad Tertiam”). The birth of Mary brings light and hope to all of Christ’s communities and especially to the Church in Liechtenstein today.
This festive secret forms the spiritual framework for the pastoral visit of the Successor of Peter to your local church. In it I greet a part of the venerable diocese of Chur, whose roots stretch back to the Roman province of Raetia. As the first fathers of your faith you venerate the saints Lucius and Gallus and through your missionary work since the early beginnings of Christianity in the Alpine region you have been the Church of Christ on the unifying Rhine river. In many ways you have testified in the past and present that you recognize Mary as the mother of your local church, venerate her as the patroness of your country, as a model and hope of your faith and emulate her “holy life”.
2. The scriptures of today’s liturgy allow us to look at the mystery of Mary from two different distances, as it were. The prophet Micah looks at it from the distance of the old covenant. His prophecy heralds the birth of the Messiah and anointed: ”. . . who is to rule over Israel. Its origin lies in the distant past ”(Micah 5, 1). This means the eternal Word of God, the identical Son of the Father. He will be our “Shepherd in the power of the Lord”; with him we will “live in safety”; because he will be our “peace”. At the same time the prophet speaks of the woman “who will give birth” (Ibid. 5, 2). A creature, a woman, is chosen to play a decisive role in God’s redeeming action; in it that messianic “security” and “peace” will first be concretely fulfilled. She will be blessed among all women; it will be a gift for all humanity, since it gives birth to the Redeemer.
3. On the other hand, the evangelist Matthaus observes today’s festive mystery very closely. Here we are already in the middle of what the prophet Micah could only hint at from a distance. Maria comes into the public eye as a pregnant woman. People are initially confused; one seems to be ashamed of them. Then, however, Joseph, her wedded husband, learns the significance of this child to be expected: It is willed by God in a unique way; it is “of the Holy Spirit”. His name will be “Jesus” and thus already indicate his future task: “He will redeem his people from their sins”. Yes, he will be a true “Immanuel”: In him is “God with us”: And Joseph took his wife with him (Matt. 1, 18-24). So he professes Mary and the fruit of her body; He bravely stands at the side of the mother of the Redeemer and thus passes the great test of his life.
In the Swiss German speaking part, Christkindli, literally “Christ Child”, is responsible for delivering presents to children on Christmas Eve. There is some confusion as to whether Christkindli is supposed to be Baby Jesus or rather just a cherub-faced angel.
A bell is secretly rung by one of the adults in the family during Christmas Eve celebrations, which marks the arrival of Christkindli. At this point, upon hearing the bell, children run into their bedrooms so that Christkindli can deliver their presents. When the children are summoned back into the living room, their Christmas gifts are sitting under the Christmas tree and everyone sings a few Christmas hymns together before exchanging presents.
The Christmas Green
Chlaustag – Samichlaus Day – On the sixth of December Samichlaus leaves his home in the forest and visits the homes of the children. He brings along Schmutzli (his helper), a Chlaussack (originally a burlap stocking) filled with nuts, chocolates and mandarins and the Golden Book. The children wait with anticipation, a lot of respect and with a poem or music for their visitor, as they wait to hear what Samichlaus has to say about them.
The Christmas Purple
Christkindli – Santa Claus doesn’t bring gifts down the chimney -an angel brings the gifts. The Christkindli flies in the house, decorates the Christmas tree, lights the candles on the tree, lays the gifts below and flies away. A bell rings to invite the family for their first glimpse at the decorated tree and the presents
The Christmas Red
In Liechtenstein the Christmas season begins with the celebration of St. Nicholas Day on 6 December. St. Nicholas, who may be a friend or family member in costume, visits each home to talk with the children. After asking them if they have been good children, he makes notes in his large book. The children tell him what they would like the Christmas Angel to bring on Christmas Eve. St. Nicholas gives the children small treats before he leaves. It is his responsibility to tell the Christmas Angel about the children’s Christmas wishes.
Conclusion
The meaning of a Christmas in Liechtenstein is the Christkind/Christkindl.
Children write to the Christkind/Christkindl asking for presents. The letters to the Christkind are decorated with sugar glued to the envelope to make them sparkly and attractive to look at. Children leave the letters on the windowsill at the beginning of or during Advent.
“Das Christkind” translates as “The Christ Child” in English but Germans don’t think of the Christkind as the baby Jesus. The Christkind is often described as a young girl with ‘Christ-like’ qualities.
Santa Claus or Father Christmas (der Weihnachtsmann) brings the main Christmas presents on December 24th. You might also write a letter to Weihnachtsmann in other parts of Germany. Some people say that Santa/Father Christmas (Weihnachtsmann) brings the presents and some say it is Christkind!
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