"Mikuláš, what will you give me?" your or your neighbor's children may have already started reciting, and you have realized it's time to properly clean the boots. It's the highest time! We don't know what traditions you have at home, but in some households, a mysterious figure from the heavens descends on a golden ladder, comes down the chimney, or dignifiedly enters the door to give some treats into the boots. The tradition of giving children sweets at the beginning of Advent is said to have been started by the Dutch, but in various forms, it appears in several European countries. The Dutch brought their Sinter Klaas even to the New World – America, from which later the well-known Santa Claus evolved.
The real model of Saint Mikuláš, bishop of Myra, lived sometime in the 3rd century and did not distribute gifts but gave all his inherited property to the poor and needy and always stood up for the weaker. Therefore, on the evening of December 5th, in some regions, he is depicted as a figure with a bishop's hat, cloak, and staff. Why he is accompanied by a devil and an angel can be explained by many interpretations and legends. One thing is certain: we cannot imagine it any other way. The devil sometimes just lightly scares naughty children and shakes chains, and the angel calms them so that the tradition remains a beautiful memory. For all children, it is a good opportunity to learn a nice poem and show off in full glory.
In the boots or packages, everyone eventually finds something great to nibble on, and the repeatedly announced coal and potatoes do not happen in the end. In the old socialist times, children were grateful for scarce mandarins or oranges; today, the offer of fruits and sweets is incredibly wide, making it hard for Mikuláš to choose. But a precious commodity, especially before Christmas, is our time. Therefore, these traditions should be an opportunity mainly for family gatherings and experiences, whether at home or at various school parties.
After all, through children's joy and impatience, we adults are often the most gifted.
