Happy St Nicholaus Day!

[Conforumist]

Did St Nick' come by anyone's house today?

[Who's Wee Dug]

Bit too early here.

[chillicamper]

Checked my shoes........no sweets here

[Tonyblack]

I know they celebrate it in the Netherlands - and get presents too, but I don't think it has ever been celebrated in the UK.

Still . . . Happy St Nicholas Day to anyone who does celebrate it.

[Will of Lancre]

Happy (Belated) St Nicholas Day from Luxembourg!

Here St Nick (locally called Kleeschen) delivers presents for the good children.

Traditionally his evil sidekick Housécker brings sticks to beat the naughty children, though nowadays he tends just to stand there looking scary.



Here is an article (in English!) from our local/national paper explaining the background. It has to be said, though, that Globalised American Christmas (with Santa in a bobble hat instead of a bishop's mitre, coming on the 25th instead of the 6th) is tending to get the upper hand now.

[cheery_j.]

He didn't come to our house, because we already had a visit from Saint Martin (Pelzmertl in the local dialect) in November. In Germany it's usually either the one or the other who brings some sweets to make the waiting for Christmas a bit easier.

[Tonyblack]

I have always found it fascinating the different ways that different countries celebrate Christmas. I know, for example that presents aren't given until January 6th in Spain. Having spent Sinterklass in the Netherlands, I found that very interesting indeed. I liked the chocolate initial letters that are given. I know that non-Dutch people find the idea of the black-face Zwarte Piet, somewhat disturbing and there are calls that the character should be banned, but it seems to me that it has become more of a tradition than Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer is in America.

Con, you started this thread - do you do anything special for St Nicholaus Day in Canada?

[cheery_j.]

I know that non-Dutch people find the idea of the black-face Zwarte Piet, somewhat disturbing and there are calls that the character should be banned

His cousin here is called Knecht Ruprecht, and we have the same debates...

[Conforumist]

I know that non-Dutch people find the idea of the black-face Zwarte Piet, somewhat disturbing and there are calls that the character should be banned

His cousin here is called Knecht Ruprecht, and we have the same debates...

I won't speak for the other countries, of course, but between Knecht Ruprecht and some of the other fairy tales Germans tell, they're pretty sick bunch. Our tales of Red Riding Hood, The Fox and the Rabbit (or whatever it's called) are very gruesome; specially for children.

[Who's Wee Dug]

I did see him coming in by motorboat to the harbour with his black elf, in Belgium Nov/Dec. When I was at a bike rally.

[cheery_j.]

I won't speak for the other countries, of course, but between Knecht Ruprecht and some of the other fairy tales Germans tell, they're pretty sick bunch. Our tales of Red Riding Hood, The Fox and the Rabbit (or whatever it's called) are very gruesome; specially for children.

You know what? I only started minding that when I was older. For some reason most children I know are totally okay with the most terrible fairy tales. I had a couple of fairy tale books and the only one that frightened me was one that had modern, somewhat abstract illustrations that I found terrifying.

What fox and rabbit story do you mean?

[raptornx01]

Yeah, kids are generally ok with that kind of stuff. I know I was.

(didn't terry have bits about that in the books?)

[Will of Lancre]

For some reason H C Andersen's "Snow Queen" freaked me out as a kid. Probably because of the ice splinter in the heart thing. At that age you don't know it can't happen to you too.

However, the gorier the things that happened to the bad characters, the better as far I was concerned.

[cheery_j.]

Oh yes - that was terrible! I still don't like the tale...

btw: I was lying when I said we didn't get anything from St. Nikolaus: he put a chocolate image of himself on my desk at school and he gave me a rubber duckie Christmas tree ornament and this:



Which is quite cool because when I bought a couple of those as souvenirs for friends last summer, I completely forgot to get one for myself.

Bf got another rubber duckie and a playmobil ancient German warrior as a friend for the one he already has.

[simmonds91]

Did St Nick' come by anyone's house today?

I don't know about ST Nick but I am hoping I'll get a sausage or two from the hogfather this year.... that may have come out wrong.... also your avatar is going to give me nightmares conforumist..........