St. Nicholas or Nikolo as he's also known here - comes in the night 5th to 6th December and brings goodies to children who were well behaved and coal to naughty ones. It's mostly in a bag - can be made of paper or fabric - and usually on the window sill or if the children still clean their shoes before they go to bed and put them on the window sill in their shoe too.

Usually you find chocolates (especially chocolates in the shape of St. Nicholas), peanuts (in the shell), walnuts, apples and tangerines in the bag, and a small present.

In fact in the old days it was St. Nicholas, who brought the presents. Martin Luther, who wanted to get rid of all the catholic saints, had the Christ Child bring the presents on Christmas Eve instead. Although in Northern Germany it's "der Weihnachtsmann" (Father Christmas) who brings the presents on Christmas Eve. Here in Austria and I'm not so sure about Bavaria - the Christ Child and it's angels are busy on Christmas Eve distributing the trees and presents to the good children.


Forgot to add:
I think, I will give my niece the mini dolls on Valentine's Day. Start a new tradition of gift giving then. Here in Austria you usually just give flowers to people you like/love. Well, that is if I can wait so long before I give them to her [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ January 05, 2005 04:26 PM: Message edited by: Miki_ ]</font>