Where does “Weihnachtsmann” come from?
Weihnachtsmann (German) comes from German mann, from Middle High German man, from Old High German man, from Proto-Germanic *mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Weihnachtsmann (German): Santa Claus, Father Christmas
Definitions
- Santa Claus, Father Christmas
Ancestry of “Weihnachtsmann”, step by step
Weihnachtsmann traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German mann
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | mann | man, male human being |
| 2 | Middle High German | man | man |
| 3 | Old High German | man | man |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |
via German weihnachten
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | weihnachten | To be nearly Christmas; to have a Christmassy... |
| 2 | Middle High German | wīhenahten | Christmas |
| 3 | Middle High German | ze den wīhen nahten | in the holy nights |