Saint Nicholas Day

Today is Nikolaustag or Saint Nicholas Day.  Saint Nicholas was a Greek bishop and patron saint of children, students, marchants, archers, sailors, fisherman, pawnbrokers and thieves, that lived in fourth century A.D. in modern day Turkey.  There are legends of his good deeds and miracles (which may have included magic wheat, would-be prostitutes and cannibalistic homicidal butchers!). Here in this part of Germany there is a big difference between St. Nick and the Weihnachtsmann aka Santa Claus/Chirstmas Man.  Santa Claus is more commercial (think Coca-Cola) and arrives on December 25th to the front door bearing gifts in return for a song from the children.  St. Nick looks similar but is dressed like a bishop.  In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door on the night of 5 December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year. If they were not, they will have a tree branch in their boots instead. (Other countries tell of Black Petes, Moorish characters who will steal the naughty child in a sack).  Apparently,  I was a good boy this year because this morning I found a chocolate Santa Claus (confusing, right?) on my doorstep!  Happy St. Nicholaus Day indeed!