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In my culture, the 6 th  of December marks a very important tradition in the pre-festive period leading up to Christmas. We celebrate Nikolaus Day in honour of Saint Nikolaus, a 4 th  century saint who brought gifts to children and the poor. Nikolaus Day has been special because it is not only a little treat before Christmas and increase the anticipation for Christmas Eve, it is also a day to educate children. Tradition has it that you have to clean your shoes the night before Nikolaus Day. Children who have been modest and well-behaved throughout the year will leave their boots spotless and will find small gifts in the morning. Their shoes will be filled with sweets, candied apples and nuts. Naughty kids on the other hand will neglect their shoes and leave them dirty, so Krampus or sometimes Knecht Ruprecht (Nikolaus devilish helpers) will gift them with a rod and punish them with it. Knecht Ruprecht usually comes in ragged clothes and heavy chains to represent the tamed evil...

Over the last few days I went home to Germany and it was the weekend celebrating the first advent, meaning there are only three more to go until it's Christmas Eve time. Germans love a taditional Christmas and for some, including me, the pre-period leading up to the 24th December is the most exciting time of the year. The first advent marks the opening of the famous Christmas Markets and for the next couple of weeks, people will come together to get into the festive mood and celebrate one of Germany's oldest religious traditions. Though I'm very happy to see that parts of my culture are taken over by other countries such as Belgium and the UK, I find that hardly nowhere are the markets as beautiful, magical and authentic as they are at home. Usually hold in medieval market squares surrounded by old churches, town halls and restored Renaissance houses, the markets give you that special feeling of Christmas. It is already frosty cold, most likely minus degrees, snow has cover...