Christmas - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1972 - 2 Shilling

The brand image shows a Gothic wooden sculpture "Mother of God with Child", which is located in the branch church Inzersdorf in Upper Austria. Until the Middle Ages you can follow the "Christkindlbraucht". At that time parents gave their daughters a small, mostly of ivory carved Jesus on the occasion of the dressing to the nun. This statue was called the "Comforter" because, as the name implies, it was supposed to comfort the girls about the separation from their parents' home. The average height of such a Christian was from 20 to 50 millimeters, and the materials were wood, alabaster, wax or even gold. Even the clothes of the child had their special meaning: white, red and green stood for innocence, love and humility. Later, the "little comforter" was included in the Advent season in the custom of "Christkindlweeping". The wives weighed a wooden Jesus during the Holy Days, and all the family members sang a song. Even today, many young children believe in the Christ Child, who, according to legend, roams the streets on Christmas Eve, stopping at every house where a good child lives to distribute candies and apples.