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The night of December 5 has a special meaning for all children. Every year tonight, they wash and polish their shoes, boots or boots, hoping that Santa Claus will bring them gifts.
Santa Claus is expected to come the night of December 5-6. The tradition of gifts received from Santa Claus has ancient origins, from the time of a legendary character, who really existed, notes Agerpres.
The story of Santa Claus
This was a bishop with great faith in God, who lived in the 4th century – Nicholas of Myra-Lycia (somewhere in the lands of present-day Turkey), to whom many good works are attributed to the poor or afflicted. Coming from a wealthy family, upon the death of his parents, he gave his entire fortune to those in need, according to Sorin Lavric’s “Christmas Book” volume, Humanitas Publishing House, 1997.
One of the best known legends about Santa Claus is that of three poor girls who, having no dowry, could not marry and would be sold by their father to rich men. But Saint Nicholas, upon learning of their problem, threw a bag of money out of the window of each of them, on the night of December 5-6. The bags fell into the girls’ dry socks or boots. Probably, here is written the custom of Santa’s gifts being put in his boots, writes the cited source.
And also for that, the boys make sure their boots or boots are very clean tonight.
Traditions of Santa Claus
In Romanian traditions, Santa Claus appears, on the night of December 5-6, on a white horse (a kind of reference to the first snow that falls at the beginning of winter). He also protects the Sun so that it does not sneak into the northern kingdoms and leave the world without light and heat, helps widows, orphans and poor girls, is the master of the waters and saves ships from drowning, defends the soldiers in time of war (that is why it is invoked during fights), says the volume “Christmas Book”.
There is also the custom of putting in the water, tonight, branches of fruit trees -in the house, next to the icons-, which should bloom for the new year. Depending on which branch of the tree has blossomed, a good harvest of fruits is expected in the new year. In the villages there is a custom that on Saint Nicholas Day the virgins organize themselves in groups and choose their host where they will go to repeat the Christmas and New Year carols.
The legend of Santa Claus has spread throughout the world and has acquired the characteristics of each country. In Europe, in the 12th century, Saint Nicholas Day became a day of gifts or humanitarian and charitable activities.
How it is celebrated in Europe
In Germany, the image of Santa Claus appeared combining a pagan figure with the Christian image of Saint Nicholas, who looks like an old man carrying a sack on his back and a bundle of wands in his hand. Good kids get candy from the bag, and kids who haven’t get a stick, potato, or some charcoal.
The children of France, who are waiting for Santa Claus, leave a glass of wine next to their boots, and for their donkey they leave two or three carrots and a little sugar, because in the eastern regions of France, the little ones know that Santa Claus is riding on a donkey, with Pere Fouettard (Santa Claus), dressed in black. Santa Claus leaves gifts to good children and Santa Claus leaves a stick to those who were not good.
In Belgium and Luxembourg, children place their boots in front of the door and, like the little French, prepare a glass of wine for Santa.
Santa Claus is very loved by the children of Austria, who perceive him as an old man dressed as a bishop, with a large book in which the angels write all the exploits of the little ones and holds in his hand a wand for the little ones who did not obey their parents.
In Italy, children place on a plate, on the night of December 5, the notes on which they write their wishes, promising Santa Claus that they will be fine next year. The next day, instead of the tickets, I find her favorite sweets.
Santa Claus (Sveti Nikola) brings gifts to Croatia later, the night before, the children shine their shoes and place them on the window sills, for the generous old man to fill them with gifts, sweets and fruits.
In Poland, Santa Claus dressed in episcopal clothing is seen descending from heaven with the help of an angel and singing Christmas carols across the country on foot or in a chariot drawn by a white horse. After entering a house, Santa Claus listens to children’s requests, scolds them – if they were not good -, or praises them – if they were good. He gives the good icons red apples, oranges, and “pierniki” (sacred cakes, made with honey and spices).
In Slovakia, Santa Claus (Svaty Mikulas) arrives in a horse-drawn carriage. On the eve, the children put their polished shoes on the windowsill or on the doorstep, expecting to find them full of presents in the morning. In some schools, the “Mikul Mail” celebration is held, during which children give each other small gifts.
In Slovenia, the night before Saint Nicholas Day, children put their shoes outside in front of the door, expecting to find it the next day full of fruits, sweets, coins and small toys. The one who accompanies Santa Claus, named Parkel, puts coal and ashes in the shoes of naughty children.
Before Saint Nicholas Day (Szent Miklós), the children of Hungary clean their shoes or boots and place them on the windowsill for the generous Santa to fill. In the morning, children find sweets, oranges, nuts, apples, chocolate, and small gifts in their shoes. Naughty children are given twigs or wooden spoons.
