Christmas 2010 – Germany

Germany post issued two stamps to celebrate Christmas 2010: Mary and baby Jesus and Adoration of the Magi.

In the 14th Century has been shown in some Roman churches, the birth and the adoration of the Christ child with small figures. From the beginning of the 16th Century there were in Italy, the first independent church nurseries. The often very artistic and valuable figures and nativity scenes have been used primarily “at court” and less in churches and at first not the people. The possibility of the crib for the arrangement and illustrating use of the Christian faith, was only detected much later.

Church of Our Lady for the Munich about 1590 one of the earliest church nurseries in the North Alpine area was built. Around 1900, then the parish of Our Lady in Munich bought at the Bavarian nativity outstanding artist Sebastian Osterrieder (1864-1932) figures for a new Domkrippe. This was the basis for the Munich Domkrippe, as we know it today. Shown are the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi.

Mary with Jesus
The representation of the birth of Christ is limited to the central motifs: the Christ child lies on a blanket in the manger, Mary sits next to it, Joseph is at her side, and store in the background of the ox and the donkey. Mother and child are working as a character, thereby establishing the relationship is with each of the two mutually respected. The child turns to the viewer with open arms. The feet have hit it over the other, which already hinted at the theme of the crucifixion. The mother is very focused on the child resting on his sleeping place, at the head and the feet, hands. With this design, the Mother of God, the artist developed a dual message: one hand her motherly care for the newborn is expressed, on the other hand, it shows the viewer the Son of God, who will be sacrificed for mankind on the cross.

Title: Christmas 2010 – Germany
Date of Issue: 11 November 2010
Country: Germany
Denominations: 45 +20, 55 +25