Today we celebrated the Nikolaus day in the kindergarten.
This Nikolaus is something similar yet totally different from the Santa Clause. Nikolaus was a bishop in Turkey who loved helping poor and needy people. So now 6th of December is the day on which we celebrate his day. A man comes dressed up in red bishop robes different to the red furry robes of the other Santa, and white hair and flowing beard and moustaches and he asks the children if he has been good or bad; if bad the child gets coal (Yikes! I believe no one would do that, seriously!)and if good then he gets goodies and chocolates. And of course we sing Nikolaus songs in German and English. On the other hand the Santa clause which the whole world knows of is just an extension of this real Nikolaus but is represented in a different, easier, carefree, fun and frolicky manner who dresses up in red and white furr robes, flaunts a white flowing beard and hair, is a jolly overweight man who delights in distributing sweets and gifts to everyone.
And, Germans are very very particular to point out the differences between Nikolaus and Santa Clause telling you with all their strength and vigor that Nikolaus is not Santa! Some even have problems accepting the English songs for Nikolaus as we have only for Santa and Santa is not Nikolaus!
All the groups together with their teachers assembled in the hall. A big burly Nikolaus walked in swaying with old age and a kind eye twinkling from under his white bushy eyebrows, wearing a bright red splendid bishop gown with some gold work in front and a big brown sack slung across his heavy shoulders; he even had a bell tinkling in his right hand. He looked fabulous! I swear, the best Santa that I have till date seen! The children just went mad with wonder! Most of them had actually believed he was real Nikolaus come to reward them with goodies because they had been good and learnt the song so well!
We presented our songs to him. Since nearly three weeks all the groups had been practicing the German and English songs for the occasion; 'Lustig, lustig...' and 'Nikolaus, Nikolaus..' as German songs and 'dashing through the snow...' as the English one. But we only presented the German songs and omitted the English one because 'Nikolaus is not Santa!' I was so angry for a while even though I knew that they were right, well according to their point of view, I mean.
Then Nikolaus started calling each child one by one, striking some simple conversation with him and handing him the bag of goodies which the teachers had prepared already. I learnt that this man was no other than Chr, a friend of Stf who has his own computer company and he helps Stf in almost all computer and law related issues within the school. He is a bulky fellow with a fully round bulging tummy and a considerable height, hence he looked awesome in his part as Nikolaus, but more than that he put in so much of effort to act as a real Nikolaus by effecting not only an old aged man's slouched gait but also the voice and laughter of an old man as well which must have been really difficult. I was totally carried away just to hear him speak like an old man in a wobbly voice.
I can never never forget this Santa, ever! He is the best Santa I have ever seen or will ever see in future.
Well, but he was not Santa; he was Nikolaus!
This Nikolaus is something similar yet totally different from the Santa Clause. Nikolaus was a bishop in Turkey who loved helping poor and needy people. So now 6th of December is the day on which we celebrate his day. A man comes dressed up in red bishop robes different to the red furry robes of the other Santa, and white hair and flowing beard and moustaches and he asks the children if he has been good or bad; if bad the child gets coal (Yikes! I believe no one would do that, seriously!)and if good then he gets goodies and chocolates. And of course we sing Nikolaus songs in German and English. On the other hand the Santa clause which the whole world knows of is just an extension of this real Nikolaus but is represented in a different, easier, carefree, fun and frolicky manner who dresses up in red and white furr robes, flaunts a white flowing beard and hair, is a jolly overweight man who delights in distributing sweets and gifts to everyone.
And, Germans are very very particular to point out the differences between Nikolaus and Santa Clause telling you with all their strength and vigor that Nikolaus is not Santa! Some even have problems accepting the English songs for Nikolaus as we have only for Santa and Santa is not Nikolaus!
All the groups together with their teachers assembled in the hall. A big burly Nikolaus walked in swaying with old age and a kind eye twinkling from under his white bushy eyebrows, wearing a bright red splendid bishop gown with some gold work in front and a big brown sack slung across his heavy shoulders; he even had a bell tinkling in his right hand. He looked fabulous! I swear, the best Santa that I have till date seen! The children just went mad with wonder! Most of them had actually believed he was real Nikolaus come to reward them with goodies because they had been good and learnt the song so well!
We presented our songs to him. Since nearly three weeks all the groups had been practicing the German and English songs for the occasion; 'Lustig, lustig...' and 'Nikolaus, Nikolaus..' as German songs and 'dashing through the snow...' as the English one. But we only presented the German songs and omitted the English one because 'Nikolaus is not Santa!' I was so angry for a while even though I knew that they were right, well according to their point of view, I mean.
Then Nikolaus started calling each child one by one, striking some simple conversation with him and handing him the bag of goodies which the teachers had prepared already. I learnt that this man was no other than Chr, a friend of Stf who has his own computer company and he helps Stf in almost all computer and law related issues within the school. He is a bulky fellow with a fully round bulging tummy and a considerable height, hence he looked awesome in his part as Nikolaus, but more than that he put in so much of effort to act as a real Nikolaus by effecting not only an old aged man's slouched gait but also the voice and laughter of an old man as well which must have been really difficult. I was totally carried away just to hear him speak like an old man in a wobbly voice.
I can never never forget this Santa, ever! He is the best Santa I have ever seen or will ever see in future.
Well, but he was not Santa; he was Nikolaus!
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