Saint Nicholas visited last tonight…. An event eagerly awaited by the Small People, who look forward to it almost as much as Christmas Day itself – thanks of course to the gifts he leaves if they have been good!! I have a Dutch grandmother so this isn’t a new tradition for me, but it’s something that we really started when we moved here so that the Small People didn’t feel like they were missing out..
I find myself treasuring these occasions even more now as they get older and begin to question things, but they currently still believe… This is no mean feat in our multi-cultural school environment where doubts can be placed in little minds by friends from far off places. Thankfully a wise international school parent once told me how she dealt with it – she told her children that if they stopped believing, the magic would finish and therefore so would the presents – and that so far seems to have done the trick!
I am sure I have mentioned before that in these parts Saint Nicholas travels with a friend called Krampus. A friend whose job it is to dole out the not so desirable gifts if you haven’t perhaps been so well-behaved throughout the year, and who in past times must have proved most useful in parental blackmailing tactics as he is in fact quite petrifying (although at his worst he only leaves twigs and clanks chains about). Depictions of him vary from quite demonic to huge Wild Thing like beast…
Looking forward to the visit a few days ago, the Six Year old confidently told me that he knew he would only be getting nice things from Saint Nicholas, as so far Krampus hasn’t left him a thing, so that must mean that he is actually really really good all of the time!!… That comment might have been the deciding factor in Saint Nicholas’s helper (me!) purchasing these yesterday (although Granny actually found them so I will blame it on her!). The gingerbread might smell delicious, but the picture on the front is not so… Into the carefully placed boots they went however, along with a little note from Saint Nick himself, and a scrawled signature from Krampus underneath (together with a kiss to show he is quite friendly for good measure).
And this morning, the absolute best bit for the pair of them? The fact that Krampus had actually visited too, and that his handwriting is terrible apparently. I am now not so sure as to what to expect behaviour wise for the next 365 days!…
A Patchwork Life says
sounds like Krampus could come in handy if the kids are acting up, though maybe not anymore…! Lovely tradition and the biscuits are brilliant.
Think I still have two believers – we had to tell the eldest when he was 6 because he was so freaked out about FC turning up in his room he didn’t sleep for two weeks! He’s never mentioned it since. Knows what side his bread’s buttered! :)
bavaria says
You have a clever boy there by the sounds of things! :D Thank you! :)
Penny Carr says
What a lovely tradition for your children to be part of. It must be quite exciting to be in such an international environment when so many different traditions come together.
bavaria says
Thanks Penny, yes they love it. It makes it harder work for me though remembering them all! :D
Stacey Corrin says
I seriously need a Krampus in this house, even if it does mean parental blackmail. Sometimes my children can be so unthinkingly ungrateful that they’re luck they get anything! I shall put it down to them being too young to appreciate the thought of it all!
bavaria says
I think we are all guilty of that as children to a certain extent. It is perhaps only when we become parents ourselves that we realise the hard work put into it! :D Thanks Stacey!
otilia says
oh lovely! we celebrate St Nicholas too. They both received toys and sweets(well the eldest). I didn’t know about Krampus though. In romania in case the kids are not good they received instead of presents a stick! LOL
Happy St Nicholas!
bavaria says
Sounds like yours is a much more child friendly version… :D Thanks Otilia! :)
Liz Burton says
What a fab tradition. Where on earth did you find those biscuits! Scary.
bavaria says
My Mum spotted them in a shop in Munich… :D
Fozia says
Ohh what lovely traditions. Hopefully the magic will continue for a long time yet for them.
bavaria says
Thank you Fozia! Fingers crossed! :)
maggy, red ted art says
Oooh your kids got a Krampus AND a St Nic. (Un)luck them!! :-)
bavaria says
Thanks Maggy! :D
Mums do travel says
That’s great advice from the international school parent. I say something similar to my kids. I love the sound of Krampus!
bavaria says
I like to think he’s just misunderstood! Thank you Gretta! :)
older mum in a muddle says
Brilliant…. Krampus rocks… we don’t really have an alternative for naughty behaviour over here. The 6th of December, St Nicks day, is pretty much celebrated over most of Europe isn’t it? I hope you had a lovely time… not a very appetising picture on the face of those ginger men. X
bavaria says
Thank you… I think it is in alternative forms… In Italy and Spain isn’t it a special old witchy lady or something? I can’t remember :D xx
Shell Louise says
What lovely traditions :) My eldest girl is 8 now and this is the first year she’s really doubting everything Santa due to conversations at school. It saddens me but hopefully I’ll be able to keep her believing for this year at least.
bavaria says
It goes too quickly doesn’t it? Thank you…
Healthier Mummy says
What an interesting tradition and a lovely blog post. I like the sound of Krampus. It’s a great idea to have a character who serves to keep the kids’ behaviour on the straight and narrow.
bavaria says
I think so too, it is funny how the more modern Krampus’s are far less scary though! :D
Funky Wellies says
LOL! I like the fact that Krampus came by too… ;)
But my question is: What did they leave for you?! I got the brand new “Scorpions MTV Unplugged in Athens” CD and chocolates… Obviously I have been very good this year! xx
bavaria says
Nothing… Not a thing…. I think I have been very bad this year! :D xx
Funky Wellies says
Hmmm… I would leave them a note next year! ;o) xx
bavaria says
Definitely! Thank you! :) x
Trish says
Is Krampus like this Elf on a Shelf I keep hearing about, but obviously has more tradition and only comes on one night!
You’ve made a rod for your own back now if they think it’s cool that he has visited! Ha, can see lots of naughtiness ahead (kidding!!)
bavaria says
Yes, but I am not actually sure which one I find scarier!! I think the elf on the shelf thing looks like a ventriloquist’s dummy, and they have always scared me too! :D And yes, I know, I know… Thank you xx
Karen Combe says
Haha…you may have started something there!! They are rather ‘cool’ presents!! x
bavaria says
Thank’s Karen! :D x
fritha says
what a great tradition! x
bavaria says
Thank you Fritha… We have quite a few to keep up with the more countries we live in… :D x
A Mum in London says
I love that Krampus character (even his name sounds grumpy). What a lovely thing they still believe in the magic.
bavaria says
For now they do, and I shall make the most of it… Thank you! :) x
Mammasaurus says
Ahhh so I wonder if this has anything to do with Kittys class leaving out shoes over the weekend at school to see if they have been good (sweets in shoes) or naughty (coal in shoes) !?!?!
bavaria says
Yes, yes definitely!! I bet nobody actually really gets twigs or coal though! :D x
Loubelle says
I’m sure my little crew would be very worried at the threat of Krampus visiting. They are very aware that they will only get an orange in their stocking if their behaviour hasn’t been up to scratch!
bavaria says
They sound very very well trained! Thanks Loubelle! :)
Louisa says
I love this! What a wonderful tradition. : )
bavaria says
Thanks Louisa! I do love discovering all these new traditions :)
Mary says
So many Christmas traditions to keep up with when you’re an expat! That Krampus fella looks rather scary…although it sounds like your pair didn’t think so!
bavaria says
Thank you! Luckily they haven’t seen any of the pictures on the internet…. They did see one in Munich, but he looked like the honeymonster in need of a hair cut…
Pols80 says
What a lovely tradition! It’s tough when they get to the age where their peers start to plant seeds of doubt in their little minds. Sounds like you’ve found a good way to respond though. Krampus should really practice his handwriting though… ;)
bavaria says
Thank you Pols! He definitely could do with some practice by the looks of things… :)