Incorporating the Christkindl Tradition into Advent
Back in 2012, I shared about a beautiful Austrian custom I first read about in Maria von Trapp’s Around the Year with the Trapp Family. (At the time, I had the out-of-print 1955 version—how wonderful that it has since been reprinted! Affiliate links to the book at Amazon and Sophia Institute Press.)
Maria describes how her family prepared for Advent, including a tradition involving letters to the Holy Child:
…And there is still one very important thing to do for Advent. According to Austrian custom, every member of the family writes a letter to the Holy Child mentioning his resolutions for the weeks of Advent and listing all his wishes for gifts. This “Christkindl Brief” (letter to the Holy Child) is put on the window sill, from whence the Guardian Angel will take it up to heaven to read it aloud to the Holy Child…
Inspired by this tradition, we decided to incorporate it into our own family’s Advent traditions.
Our Family’s Christkindl Tradition
Each year during Advent, our children write letters to Baby Jesus. In the past we have used various templates or they have handwritten their own. In their letters, they include:
- What they are thankful for,
- Special intentions they are praying for,
- Ways they want to grow closer to Jesus,
- and Christmas gift wishes.
Instead of placing the letters on the windowsill, our children just tuck their “Christkindl Briefs” into their shoes or slippers on the eve of St. Nicholas’ feast day. The next morning, St. Nicholas has “picked up” the letters to deliver them to the Christ Child!
This has become a meaningful way to tie in St. Nicholas’ feast day and deepen the connection between Advent and Christmas. Plus, it helps our children reflect on both spiritual preparation and the joy of giving and receiving.
Dec 5th: Our littlest ones with their “Christkindl Briefs” (Letters to the Holy Child) all ready to go—they tucked them into their slippers before heading to bed, for St. Nicholas to pick up tonight and deliver to Baby Jesus. (They wrote letters to St. Nicholas too!) 💌
Write Your Own Christkindl Brief
This year I created a new template for our younger children. Even though we write our letter’s on December 5th, it really can be done anytime during Advent leading up to Christmas.
If you’d like to use it too you can download the printable letter pdf here or simply save the image below to print at home.
If you decide to try this tradition in your home, I pray it brings your family closer to the heart of the season—preparing not just your homes, but also your hearts, to welcome the Christ Child.
Wishing you a joyful and blessed Advent season!
0 Comments