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Happy St Nicholas Day!
If you had a celebration today, I hope it was a pleasant treat before Christmas.
My 2014 post has much detail on this famous bishop of the 4th century. There is much we can learn about — and from — this great man:
My 2016 post discusses the customs and celebrations observed on this day:
More on St Nicholas — feast day December 6
In commenting on that post, one of my readers, sunnydaysall, shared her experience of living in Germany and being able to join in the festivities:
Wow! I had no idea St Nicholas was so many things to so many different cultures.
When I lived in Berlin Germany, I lived in the heart of the population… On the “economy” as it was called by military dependents! I loved the German people and their customs, and Christmas was a real treat for my family! We put our shoes out on the stoop for St Nicholas to stuff our shoes with sweet treats and trinkets, and sometimes there was a simple exchanging of gifts! But it was the neighborhood celebrations that we all enjoyed so much!
The European Christmas with St Nicholas was so very different from our American Santa Claus, and Christmas was celebrated with neighbors, family, and friends! The cobblestone streets were filled with carolers and snow! Being from the South, it was the first time I had lived where it truly snowed!! Large beer wagons were filled with hay and people hopped aboard and caroled from the wagons as well! The “huge” horses were draped in jingle bells and they were braided in their mane and tails! The kids would get so excited when they heard them coming!
There were also people in the streets singing and the neighborhood pubs, where everyone gathered, stayed open almost all night! But you had to be ready for Church the next morning! 🙂
For a country with a dwindling population, 40 years ago, Germany was all about celebrating the “family”… But now I hear it is so very different now.
Thanks, sunnydaysall, for documenting a lovely memory — and for letting me share it here.
Churchmouse Campanologist 