In Germany, St. Nikolaus Day (December 6th) is celebrated as the day children leave a boot outside their front door before going to bed. When they wake up, they discover that St. Nikolaus (the former Turkish Bishop from whom Americans derive the idea of Santa Claus) has filled their boots with nuts, mandarin oranges, and small gifts. Naturally, Toby and Joshua are delighted to share in this German tradition.
On Sunday of the same week, we joined three other German families to celebrate Nikolaustag by sharing a meal together (Kaesespaetzle and Brate
n), watching a puppet show the kids rehearsed at their weekly German play group, listening to a story about the real St. Nikolaus, and drinking apple cider and champagne. Would you believe that Nikolaus himself left goodies at the front door for each of the children, along with a hand-written note while we were there?
