December 13, 2005: Bald is Nikolaus' Abend da!

Growing up in Croatia and Austria, the feast of St. Nicholas was a big deal in my childhood. He is celebrated on 6th December and brings kids little gifts and chocolate. Usually children set out shoes and plates, which on the morning of the 6th are miraculously filled with goodies. Sometimes St. Nicholas "really" comes during the day of the 6th and brings the gifts himself - that's usually a man dressed up as Nicholas, of course. I'm sorry for ruining the illusion. St. Nicholas was a real person though and I believe Santa is some sort of diluted version (yes, I said it!). You can read about him here: Who is Saint Nicholas? Here is more about Nicholas in Austria and Nicholas in Croatia.

So since I have no personal experience with Santa, but lots with St. Nicholas, I decided I had more to say about the latter and Veronika should get to live the exhilaration of finding her shoes stuffed with candy. Oh and was it exhilarating! I had my mom buy a German book about St. Nicholas, which Veronika religiously wanted to have read to her every single night before and after December 6th. We sang the Nicholas song every night (and day) until he finally came and left her way too much chocolate.

I hope she had as much fun with it as I did watching her. There is just nothing like the anticipation you have as a child.