An important holiday is coming up for Luxembourgers, "St. Nokolaus Day" on Dec. 6th. Many children put a boot, called Nikolaus-Stiefel, outside the front door on the night of December 5 to December 6. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good. If they were not, they will have a tree branch in their boots instead.
Sometimes, a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they "have been good", handing out presents on a per-behaviour basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades. St. Nikolaus day is a much bigger deal in Luxembourg than in Germany. For many children, Nikolaus has elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by what the Luxembourgers call "Kleeschen" who would threaten to beat, or sometimes actually eat the children for misbehaviour. Also in Luxembourg "Kleeschen" is accompanied by the "Houseker" a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit. On Saint Nicholas day (Nikolinje) brings gifts to children commending them for their good behaviour over the past year and exhorting them to continue in the same manner in the year to come. Tradition states that is the children fail to be good boys and girls than they will receive a visit from Krampus who traditionally leaves a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment