Growing up in Austria, my fondest childhood holiday memory is, right next to the "Christkind" St. Nikolaus.

My Parents both volunteerd in a non profit, simular to CarolinaKinder and I helped as much as I could. I remember how nervous I was, getting ready for St. Nick.

Now that I have children I want the same for them. My oldest daughter loves to help me with the event.
Isn´t it funny how history sometimes repeats itself...

Lasst uns froh und munter sein,
und uns recht von Herzen freun!
Lustig, lustig, traleralera!
Bald ist Nikolaus Abend da,
bald ist Nikolaus Abend da!

Dann stell ich den Teller auf,
Nik'laus legt gewiß was drauf.
Lustig, lustig, traleralera!
Bald ist Nikolaus Abend da,
bald ist Nikolaus Abend da!

Wenn ich schlaf, dann träume ich,
jetzt bringt Nik'laus was für mich.
Lustig, lustig, traleralera!
Bald ist Nikolaus Abend da,
bald ist Nikolaus Abend da!

Nik'laus ist ein guter Mann, dem man nicht genug danken kann!
Lustig, lustig, traleralera!
Bald ist Nikolaus Abend da,
bald ist Nikolaus Abend da!

St. Nichols Prune-person

1910 Austrian Postcard St Nicholas Center Collection

St. Nicholas, the special children's saint, is honored throughout Austria. It is said that God rewarded Nicholas' generosity by allowing him to return to earth each year to bring gifts to all the good children. St. Nicholas comes on his feast day, a special holiday apart from Christmas. Some places he comes on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5, and other places on the day itself, December 6. St. Nicholas (or Nicolo or Niklaus) is dressed as a bishop with flowing robes and a miter. He carries a big book and a bishop's crozier. During the year angels, who sometimes come with him, write children's good and bad deeds in this book.
In Austria a strange and frightening creature, Krampus, is usually with St. Nicholas. This devil figure, often in chains, is dressed in fur with a scary mask and a long red tongue. Krampus carries a wooden stick or switches to threaten children who misbehave or do not know their lessons. St. Nicholas never lets Krampus harm anyone. In some areas, though, hooligans dressed as Krampus do cause distressing havoc. When children promise to be good and study hard, St. Nicholas rewards them with a treat. He may come by himself or with angel helpers.

Christkindlmarkt at Schoenbrun Palace, Vienna Photo: DGM

Austrian Christkindlmarkts open before St. Nicholas Day. There one finds delightful St. Nicholas delicacies—chocolates, marzipan, decorated cookies, even bread shaped like the good saint. The treats can be very small, just a single wrapped chocolate turned into a hand-made little Bishop Nicholas. Spiced speculatius cookies are shaped like the saint and Krampus. These are decorated with colored icing, fruit, and nuts. There are even prune-people of St. Nicholas and Krampus.

Austrian Postcard St Nicholas Center Collection

Children leave shoes for St. Nicholas on the windowsill or outside their bedroom doors. In the morning they find the good saint has filled good children's shoes with oranges, apples, nuts, sweets, and small toys. Of course, all the children are good.

St Nicholas Chocolate, Austria

In some towns St. Nicholas processes from the church before giving little presents to all the children. Saint Nicholas, and Krampus, may also visit in homes to ask children if they have been naughty or nice and perhaps to recite their prayers. Or the Children may simply find treats in their shoes in the morning.