Martin Luther, the German founder of the protestant movement, didn’t believe in venerating saints as Catholics did while celebrating the arrival of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6.
Instead, he honored the Christkind — an angel with blond hair and wings who left gifts under trees in homes on Dec. 24, the last day of Advent.
Luther wanted the Christkind to represent the infant Jesus, but over time the angels assumed a feminine appearance.
Aspects of both the catholic and protestant celebrations then merged.
