Janšojski bog - Gift-giving in Jänschwald

A regional custom in the weeks before Christmas, the gift-giving child, can be found only in the village of Jänschwalde. This village is situated north of Cottbus and is the only village where this custom has survived until the present day. It originated in the spinning room in which between the mid of October and Ash Wednesday the local women met every evening in one of the farmer's houses. Wednesday before Christmas Eve was the last night in the old year when all the women met and dressed the oldest of the unmarried girls as the gift-giving child. The costume of "Janšojski bog" consists of the most beautiful parts of all different costumes in Lower Lusatia throughout the year. The headdress is especially made in a remarkable and lavish style. Wedding garlands and wreaths of three bridesmaids adorn the headdress. The face is covered with a white mesh and numerous colorful ribbons and chains that should make it impossible to recognize the girl. Above a banded skirt the gift-giving child wears two white aprons and four to five colorful embroidered skirt ribbons. Two women in a spinning room costume accompany the disguised person. Together they walk through the wintry village and the gift-giving child rings a little bell to tell they are coming. In the other hand it carries a birch rod that is decorated with red, white and blue ribbons to knock on people's doors and windows. The two companions wait outside while the gift-giving child goes in the home. The children are very curious as they notice the little pouch on the arm. The "Janšojski bog" silently gives a hand full of sweets to each child and leaves. On the way out it touches parents and grandparents with the birch rod to pass along strength, luck and health for the following year. The covered face and the silence retain the pre-Christmas atmosphere and secrecy of this figure.