Hope You Put Your Boots Out

Happy Saint Nicolas Tag from us here in Ladenburg.

Sunday, Dec 6 th here in Germany all the little children awake to find that Saint Nicolas visited their homes and filled their boots full of wonderful things.  Most times those gifts are bright shinny apples and colorful oranges.

I found this wonderful description on a website  “The Saint Nicolas Center” and I want to share it here with you.

“In Roman Catholic areas of southern Germany, such as Bavaria, Sankt Nikolaus still comes as a bishop with flowing beard and a bishop’s miter and staff. Houses are thoroughly cleaned and children clean and polish their shoes or boots in preparation for the saint’s visit. On the evening before St. Nicholas Day, children put letters to the good saint along with carrots or other food for his white horse or donkey on a plate or in their shoes. These are left outside, under the bed, beside a radiator, or on a windowsill in hopes of finding goodies from St. Nicholas the next morning. During the night Sankt Nikolaus goes from house to house carrying a book in which all the children’s deeds are written. If they have been good, he fills their plate, shoe or boot with delicious fruits, nuts and candies. If not, they may find potatoes, coal, or twigs.

Children practice poems and songs for Sankt Nikolaus and make little presents for him. Friends and neighbors come to share in the fun. Candles on the Advent wreath and the big Christmas pyramid with a nativity scene in the center are lit. Stories are read or songs sung as everyone waits for a knock on the door. When it comes, they all know it is Sankt Nikolaus, who comes in with his big book, golden crozier, and a big heavy sack. One of the children gets to hold the golden staff. Each child (and sometimes adults, too) stand in front of the saint. Nikolaus asks each child, “Have you behaved yourself?” “Do you do your homework?” “Do you keep your room tidy?” “Do you help your parents?” Then he opens his big sack and gives presents and candies and treats for all to share. And they give him the little surprises. Nikolaus leaves quickly as he has many places to visit. He travels with a white horse or a donkey and sometimes Ruprecht, his most common German companion, is with him.”

Last evening while walking into the Christmas market in my town I saw in all the shop windows, tiny clean boots with little notes describing who they belonged to, their age and where they live.  I asked a shop keeper about them and he told me that today the children will find which shop has their boot and with excited faces, they will find out what Saint Nicolas left for each of them.  He told me a large bag of goodies.

Here’s hoping you remembered to put your boots out and that they and your life are filled with wondrous JOY!

Happy St. Nicolas day to you all!
St.Nicolas