I get emails every so often throughout the year. If my Basque were up to the task I’d probably take a shot at answering them… then again if word gets around I’d be up to my neck in e-mails.
This is funny to read. Because Kindl= small child is neutral in German, not male, and because the Nativity scenes have an undetermined bundle in a blanket (or a small boy with a halo), the Christkindl is often considered seperate from Jesus, not the Baby Jesus.
It doesn’t help that, as usual*, the Christkindl is represented in Person by young blond women in white nightdresses with golden wings…
As for the lifting itself, that’s done by the companions, Knecht Ruprecht and others in South Germany + Austria.
The Münchner Kindl(munich child) is another case of this transformation. Originally, the coat of arms of the city of Munich shows a monk in his garb. Over time, this became a small child, who is now represented during the Oktoberfest procession by a young, usually blond, womenriding on a horse.