Giveaway: Nikolaus Day In Germany
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...