Imagine: 3 toddlers running around holding an orange screaming “orange!” and “open!”.
This year upon finding the tangerine oranges in their boots, all three of them ran around screaming oranges and begging me to open them. They ignored the chocolate and new toy car for the joy of an orange in the morning. Toddlers are funny like that.
Last year my boys were just too little to enjoy Christmas traditions in full but now we can both have fun with them.
Americans have Black Friday that often is a signal for the beginning of the Christmas season.
In Europe, since they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving being an American holiday, they each have their own start to the Christmas season.
For Germany one indicator of the start of the season is St Nikolaustag on December 6th.
For St. Nikolaustag, children put their clean shoes out before they go to bed in anticipation of St. Nikolaus or Santa filling them with treats.
Treats are typically oranges, chocolate, and other little small gifts. Remember kids shoes are small.
This very much mimics the tradition of stockings here in the United States where they’re filled with treats and little toys in the night by Santa Claus while the kids are sleeping.
History of St. Nikolaustag
St. Nikolaus was thought to be a real person. The myth is based on Nicholas Myra, a bishop in Greece and Turkey. He was known for giving secret gifts and is now the patron saint of little children.
Because St. Nikolaus was based on a bishop, his clothing reflects that.
Rather than the traditional red fur lined suit with a short jacket, it’s a long coat and a bishop’s hat. There’s often more embroidery and it’s a deeper maroon instead of bright red.
December 6th is the chosen date of celebration because that’s when Nicholas of Myra died, so it’s in honor of him.
How does this German tradition relate to American stockings?
First the similarities
Just like our tradition of stockings overnight, St. Nikolaus is not seen as he comes and does this while the children are sleeping.
Both traditions involve treats, chocolate, and toys for the good children.
What are the differences?
The US stocking tradition often happens Christmas Eve or overnight for Christmas day.
St. Nikolaustag is at the very beginning of December, specifically December 6.
Children in the United States have stockings hung by a fireplace or mantel piece, while children in Germany make sure their shoes are nice and clean (who wants smelly treats!).
Though the stockings don’t need to be cleaned like the shoes do, it’s still important to take care of them. In the early years of this tradition, not all children had boots or shoes, so they used their stockings.
My host mom, when I studied abroad in Berlin, didn’t put treats for me in my shoes but in a mug with the Berlin Ubahn map. There were pencils and chocolate and a few other small stationary items (as she knew that would appeal to me).
What happens if the shoes aren’t clean or the child is naughty?
If a child’s shoes aren’t clean, this is where the coal comes in, though a switch has been used as well. No treats for the child’s shoes covered in mud and dirt, just coal. Though with current prices that might be more valuable than chocolate.
When the Christmas markets open in Germany, you will often see the little toys and treats that are specifically for kids shoes for Saint Nikolaustag.
How does your family celebrate stockings or St. Nikolaustag? What are your favorite treats to get? Comment below!
Want to learn German while celebrating Christmas? Check out Mit Mir Christmas! Preschool level Parent led German through Christmas themed Activities.
