Szent Mikulás

December 6th, Szent Mikulás Nap (day) is the day when 

Hungary ’s Santa makes his rounds, 

traditionally, by a horse drawn sleigh. 

He is said to be accompanied by two helpers, 

a good angel who gives out presents to good children 

and 

a krampusz, a mean goblin who punishes bad children.

He is very simialr to the Western Santa 

except that instead of a Santa Clause costume 

he wears the red robes of a bishop, 

a red miter on his head and carries a staff in one hand.

On the evening of the 5 th December children 

polish their shoes (or in our case, grab any old boot that is handy)

 and put them in the window. (or by the front door. ;)

By the morning, if they have been good, 

Mikulás bácsi (uncle Nicholas) will fill their shoes with candy, 

tangerines, walnuts, apples, dates and chocolate Mikulás figures. 

Unfortunately, nowadays, the chocolate figures look 

more like the Western Santa Clause than the traditional 

Hungarian figure but are just as delicious. 

If the child has been bad, the boot will contain just a bundle of twigs, 

usually with a krampusz-figure attached, 

indicating a beating is in order. Since no child is all good or all bad, 

most get the bundle of twigs and the presents.

Starting in early November the store
shelves are lined with similar looking items.

Szent Mikulás

The Krampusz.
Can you imagine receiving this in your stocking?
I think it would be worse than coal. Creepy!I also find it funny that he costs nearly 4 times the price as the Santas.

Szent Mikulas sightings are everywhere the few days before he arrives.
I saw him at a museum, a party, the metro stop and even grocery stores and every time
I received a small chocolate token. 

What were in my kids boots

The twig that all kids receive, because no one is always good or bad. 

Isn't that the truth.