Nicholas - A tale of generosity and togetherness
Waking up on a beautiful December day, a little child in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland or the Netherlands wakes up to find their boots, shining from their polish, filled with nuts and fruit and candy. There’s even a little chocolate Santa Claus. Or is it?
More precisely it’s the 5th or 6th of December and the man dressed in red, made of chocolate is not Santa, no, it’s Saint Nicholas. And the boots were not put out by chance, they were selected, polished and carefully put out.
Saint Nicholas is a legend, and with that a tradition, that is celebrated differently across different countries. This tale is based on Nicholas of Myra, an important bishop of his time. The information about his person is limited and over time facts and fiction have merged. What is known however, is that Saint Nicholas, or informally known as just Nicholas, was himself a victim of the persecution of Christians, having been captured and tortured. Despite the struggles he went through he was known for his generosity, distributing the wealth he inherited between the people in need.This is the precise aspect that caught on and serves as the base for these magical advent traditions. Traditional gifts include a variety of nuts, tangerines, apples and chocolates.
In some regions, this also ties into the legend of “Krampus”, which is particularly widespread in Austria and northern Germany. These, often scary, creatures accompany Saint Nicholas on his way through town. Instead of rewarding the kids and easing their anxious wait for Christmas, the Krampus comes to punish the kids for misbehaving. In some instances this escalates, including violence. This can overshadow the happy times, but has luckily long become outdated. In the typical tradition surrounding the two, the Krampus will bring coal to the misbehaving children, instead of the treats of Saint Nicholas.In the Netherlands a similar element existed, as parents used to threaten that if children didn’t behave they wouldn’t get gifts, but would be put in Saint Nicholas’ bag of gifts and sent with him on the steamboat to Spain (as in Dutch tradition the Saint comes from Spain). Of course this did not actually happen.Although these warnings were once part of the tradition, the true essence of the holiday is much more positive. Not only does this tradition serve as a day of connection and joy, but it is also a tribute to the honorable actions of the Bishop, acknowledging his compassion and kindness. In the cold and dark times that winter brings along, small gestures like this bring warmth to its recipient, which is a lesson worth remembering.
