Saint Nikolaus…

Not only do German children receive gifts on Christmas Eve and one small present every day in their advent calendars, but also on St. Nikolaus. St. Nikolaus day is on December 6^th and is a preparatory celebration for Christmas. According to one of Antje’s Christmas books, there was a food shortage in a small Turkish village, and St. Nikolaus rescued the children by placing nuts and oranges in their boots one night. Many European children, including Germans, celebrate the fest by placing their freshly cleaned shoes on their front porch in the hopes that St. Nikolaus will leave a gift.

Keeping with the tradition, Mina and I pulled out our shoes on the evening of December 5^th, and got to work washing them in the bathroom. Rag in hand and with a bar of soap, I scrubbed my mud-coated boots until they were spotless. Just as I was whipping off the last bit of dirt, Antje opened the door to the bathroom. “In unserer Familie, stellen wir zwei Stiefeln raus.” (In our family, we set out two pairs of shoes.) Two pairs? I thought, and with a childish smile got to work cleaning another pair of shoes.

The next morning, I awoke to find both pairs (that’s four shoes) filled with chocolate, small gift, and my favorite gift of all, a hand-knitted, bight turquoise scarf from my host mom.

My Shoes

Mina's Shoes

Christmas is truly a month long celebration in Germany. The presentation of gifts is spread out throughout the whole month of December. Each gift is cherished, from its careful selection, or creation, to its exquisite wrapping and heartfelt presentation. Christmas is a time of relaxation, warmth, and appreciation. It is a time for family and friends, but also a time to celebrate Christ. I have yet to meet a family, even those that claim not to be religious, that does not plan on attending a church service on the 24^th. The religious origin of the holiday is a fact that sometimes becomes lost in the hustle and bustle of the modern consumer. However, in Germany, the church is very important, if not the main aspect of Christmas. From the four Sundays of Advent to the many Saint days (like that of St. Nikolaus,) Christmas is more than just one day of gift opening, but a continuous celebration of the “Genuss” or enjoyment of life.