6 December 2011 - St. Nikolaus Day

("Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," of course)

The 6th of December is a special day for children in Germany and likely many other countries. But while I am, of course, accustomed to references to St. Nicholas and St. Nick, I had always that was just another name for Father Christmas and Santa Claus. Apparently not.....

On the 6th in Germany, is a gift-giving day. When evening comes, St. Nikolaus (Nicholas) knocks on the door of homes and asks about the behavior of the children inside (think "naughty or nice," for which he had a book), including more or less quizzing the kids themselves, who in turn are supposed to recite or sing something or otherwise demonstrate their unique skills. Upon successful performing, the child then receives a gift. It strikes me as a bizarre form of "Trick or Treat" but with only the treat/performance element.

So where did this tradition come from? Based on my not-so-extensive internet search, this tradition came from the legend of St. Nikolaus, who died on 6 December in AD 343. What's interesting to note, though, is that St. Nikolaus had a sidekick called Knecht Ruprecht. Ruprecht was initially along for the ride to punish the bad children. In addition to putting them in the sack he carried, he was also known to distribute lumps of coal or stones to bad children children or whips with which the children would be beaten, as opposed to the sweets and good things given by St. Nicholas. However, one online source noted that over the years, Ruprecht became known as one serving baby Jesus and eventually became known as the patron saint of Christmas - Father Christmas or Santa Claus. I find this somewhat unlikely, but again, I don't really understand the tradition.

What also remains unclear to me is the relation, if any, between Knecht Ruprecht and Belsnickel (Belschnickel if you are a Preuscher). The latter was also said to have given lumps of coals and whips in the stockings of children on Christmas, though he seems to be considered a bit on the scary and evil side - at least moreso than Ruprecht. At the same time, Belsnickel is said to deliver socks or shoes of sweets on 6 December. But if you're a Preuscher, Belsnickel visits on New Year's Eve to, allegedly, deliver the things that Santa forgot when he visited on Christmas Eve (read: "after-Christmas sale").

In any event, the St. Nikolaus holiday is celebrated widely in Germany and, as I learned this week, in its friendly Lufthansa skies. On my flight last night, instead of the regular half-sandwich wrapped in cellophane, I received a small drawstring white cotton bag with Santa Claus embroidered on the front. It contained the half-sandwich, a clementine orange, some Lebkuchen, a piece of chocolate and little piece of paper that contained both a scratch 'n' sniff sticker of holiday scents as well as the following explanation:

"Every year on the 6th of December, it's an old German custom to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. On that morning St. Nicholas makes the eyes of all good children sparkle with joy. Because on the night before, he came with his big bag of treats and filled their boots with nuts, sweets or little surprises.

"We too would like to surprise you on St. Nicholas Day - with this little sachet full of goodies in the spirit of the season. After savoring the treats inside, you're welcome to take it home as a little memento of the Lufthansa St. Nicholas. Enjoy!"

Sweet, huh? I'm still wondering about the coal guys, but pleased that at least Lufthansa, if not Knecht, are looking out for my interests.

4 December 2011 - O Tannenbaum

(Obviously, "O Tannenbaum," aka "Oh Christmas Tree")

As noted in my previous post, I am for whatever reason in the Christmas mood this year and started decorating. I even went so far as to consider a tree for the house. In prior years, I have just used the one Christmas decoration I brought over from the US - a metal structure from Crate & Barrel that consists of two triangular outlines that, when liked together, form something like a squarish Christmas tree which holds 10 taper candles. It works for me (I mean really - who doesn't like a good fire hazard?), though you can't really decorate it given the obvious flammability considerations.

So last Saturday, I headed out to Hornbach, my favorite hardware store that is conveniently located next to IKEA where I picked up a few more Christmas tchotchkes. Hornbach also is where I stock up on the gel fuel for my fake fireplace (as I type this and hearken back to one of the very early blogs regarding the "search for incendiary devices," I am beginning to wonder for the first time if I have some issues with fire).

Anyway, I found the trees in the garden area and was wandering around when one of the clerks came up and asked me if I needed some assistance. I told him that I was looking for a rather small tree since I do, after all, have cats that would love to climb (and topple) something taller and there's the small matter of transporting a larger tree. So he took me over to a different section where they had all of these little trees that were nearly so round as to be qualified as Christmas bushes. I found one that I thought would be fine, though, and that's when I realized that it wasn't just a tree ending in a stump, but a tree that was actually potted in one of those black plastic containers that you would buy a tree in if you were going to plant it at home. Uhhh....

Well, I was told (but not able to independently confirm this) that there is some EU regulation that, in order to further "green" goals, a certain portion of the Christmas trees sold are to be sold in pots with the idea that they would then be planted outside in the spring. Fascinating idea, no?

In any event, I liked the idea of something with a heavy base like this as it would decrease the odds (especially with the tree's (a picea pungens glauca, for those interested - I have nicknamed him "Picky") lower center of gravity due to its bush-like figure and relatively short height) that the Lads could successfully engage in tree-tipping. Not to mention that a tree that is alive should be less likely to lose needles in massive quantities.

So pictured here is, following repotting into an empty container from the balcony, the Christmas bush. Decorating is still ongoing, not only to find a proper top and a longer string of lights but also to try and find the right placement of ornaments to escape notice of the dangly ones by the cats. So far, only two have been batted down and, with location of unbreakable ornaments at the very bottom, no casualties.

The experience also reminded me of when I was in El Salvador as the Christmas season approached. It's obviously quite hot there and not exactly Picky's native habitat, so the trees would quickly dry out and lose their needles. If I recall correctly, Willy had said that the trees would be sent down in air conditioned train cars or trucks and they were in very short supply. Fascinating. But of course there were tons of poinsettias, which we got from Antigua, Guatemala, which is another story entirely. But I can't recall when I have ever seen something so beautiful as the acres and acres of poinsettias in the greenhouse. I will try to add a picture later if I can find one. But in the meantime.... "O Tannenbaum...."