The Hungarian Santa, called Mikulás, (Me-ku-lash) visits children on December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day, which is the name day of "Miklós." Children put boots in the windows, like stockings hang by the fireplace on Christmas Eve all over the USA. If the child has been good, Mikulás leaves the boot filled with goodies - traditionally with candies, tangerines, walnuts, apples and chocolate Mikulás figurines. Also, most children get small toys and books. If the child has been bad, the boot will contain just a switch usually with a devil-figure attached, indicating a beating is in order.
Usually Mikulás-day is celebrated in schools and in work-places for the workers' children. Children sing Mikulás-songs or tell rhymes about him and when he comes in bravest children go to him, sit to his lap and tell a poem or sing a song. Then Mikulás calls them one by one, praising them for the good things they did and mentions bad things as well.
These personal messages - of course - based on previous parents' notes. Usually Mikulás plays with them for a while or they watch a movie together.There is no Mrs. Santa in Hungary, but Mikulás often comes with one or two small evil boys, called "krampusz (kromm-puhs)."
Usually Mikulás-day is celebrated in schools and in work-places for the workers' children. Children sing Mikulás-songs or tell rhymes about him and when he comes in bravest children go to him, sit to his lap and tell a poem or sing a song. Then Mikulás calls them one by one, praising them for the good things they did and mentions bad things as well.
These personal messages - of course - based on previous parents' notes. Usually Mikulás plays with them for a while or they watch a movie together.There is no Mrs. Santa in Hungary, but Mikulás often comes with one or two small evil boys, called "krampusz (kromm-puhs)."
Interesting!
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