Naughty or Nice? Black Peter knows!

The Feast of St. Nicholas continues to be celebrated in various parts of the world and, upon waking up on December 6th, children in many parts of the world find candy and other little treats or gifts left in their shoes or stockings by the good saint as he made his rounds during the night. 

I’ve often received a lump of coal on December 6th! This year I played it by the book. I’ve been easy to work with. Easy-peasy, that’s me.

St. Nick will be eagerly anticipated by children and the gifts he brings will add to the festivities of the season.

St. Nicholas was born in 271 AD and died around December 6, 342 or 343 AD near the Asia Minor (Turkey) town of Myra, where he served as Bishop.

He performed many good deeds and was a friend to the poor and helpless, and upon his death, myths soon sprang up about him all around the Mediterranean Sea.

He was reputed to be able to calm the raging seas, rescue desperate sailors, help the poor and downtrodden, save children.

He was soon named as the patron saint of sailors, and when the town of Myra was overthrown, his bones were transported by sailors to Bari, a port in Italy, where a tomb was built over the grave and became the center of honor for St. Nicholas.

From here the legend spread on around to the Atlantic Coast of Europe and the North Sea to become a European holiday tradition regardless of religion.

In anticipation of St. Nicholas' nightly visits, children in several European countries put their shoes in front of the fire place. They sing traditional songs and provide a carrot or hay for the horse.

At night, Santa’s helper Black Pete puts gifts and candy in the shoes, (coal in mine… my nemeses…) This year I’ve kept things nice and neat, you’ll not find any naughty lists—not a single one!

In the Netherlands, families celebrate St. Nicholas' birthday the night before his feast day (December 6th). At one point during the evening, a loud knock will herald the arrival of Sinterklaas and at the same time candy may be thrown from upstairs; when the door is opened, a bag of gifts will be on the doorstep.

For families with older children and adults, different twists are added to the gift giving and may include gag gifts.  Even my four brothers ensured I’d get the coal!

Black Peter keeps track of who is naughty and who is nice.  At least I never received a ‘switch’.  Really naughty children got only switches, with which their parents spank them!

I know children that were even carried away in the helper’s bag until they learned to be good.

In the Netherlands, Santa’s helper is called Black Pete. In Germany, he’s Knect Ruprecht. In parts of France he is called Pere Fouettard. And in Luxembourg he’s known as Hoesecker. In Minnesota ‘Vite Sven!

Don’t forget to include fun filled games for family and friends. The German Christmas Pickle Game is one we play every year.

The story of the Pickle Games goes... Germans decided to begin a game that would reward only the most observant of children for finding the glass pickle in the tree. The child who found the pickle would get an extra present from Santa Claus on Christmas.

The story claims that the pickle was developed for a Bavarian who had fought in the Civil War in America.

He was jailed and near death when he asked for a pickle which after eating helped him to regain his health and live to tell about it. The story claims that he actually began hiding the pickle Christmas ornaments in his own Christmas tree from then on; promising a full year of good luck to the finder of the ornament on Christmas Day.

So purchase or make a pickle-shaped ornament and hang it on the tree. The first person to find the Christmas pickle gets an extra gift from St. Nicholas.

Whatever you do, get on the Nice list, clean out the hearth… nobody at this house is gonna get into trouble or rock the boat, we’re staying on an even keel!