In the early 1960's the Archie Brugger family moved to Frankfurt, Germany. There we were mentored into German Traditions. St. Nicholas Day was one of the most fun and is one that has been carried on into my next generation of family.
In Northern European Countries, St. Nicholas Day is a big deal. Children put their shoes out on the evening of December 5 and then the next morning they find small gifts and candy in them. The shoes are either placed in front of a fireplace - if one is available - otherwise the shoes are placed outside the front door. Magically the next morning the shoes are inside and filled with treats! (From this the ideas of the American Christmas came, I am sure.)
Naughty children are given coal and switches. For the child that needs to improve - in Germany you can buy switches with coal and candy dangling from them. St. Nicholas travels with a trickster. He is known as Black Peter in some countries and the devil in others. He sometimes turns the candy into fancy wrapped coal and cotton!
This tradition gives children plenty of time to be good for Christmas. By the morning of December 6, they know their standing and how much they need to improve for the rest of the Holidays.
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