Or should I ask whether all the mammas got tó the memo?

Its 5 December 2023. I’ve been a 3rd language German learner for almost 5 years now, I’ve mastered the art of raising a trilingual toddler, survived 4.5 icy winters, managed to avoid Schnitzel, made a few friendly German friends (yes, Germans can be friendly), propagated a flourishing veggie patch while elegantly battling the dreaded orange “Schnecken” and if all goes well I’ll master the art of a typical “Schwӓbischer Kartoffelsalat” for Christmas this year.

From a distance, I might seem at least slightly integrated but the odd tradition here and there still slips in every now and again to bite at my ankles. This year, it was the celebration of Saint Nicholas (der Heilige Nikolaus) which had me on my toes.

Apparently Saint Nicholas was born 245C.E. in what is now known as Turkey, he became the Bishop of Myra (an ancient city) and the patron saint (the protecting or guiding saint) of children, sailors, students, teachers and merchants. In Germany (as well as Austria and Switzerland) der Heilige Nikolaus brings gifts for children on Nikolaustag, 6 December every year.

This sounds simple enough right?

Well, it takes some prepping. Firstly, foreign moms need to make sure they’ve got their ducks in the correct line. In Germany, your children are expected to clean their shoes on 5 December and put these outside their door before bedtime for Saint Nikolaus to bring little gifts through the night. I’ve noticed that these usually include something citrus (like an orange), a few nuts, an apple, if you’ve been a really good kid then something sweet like a chocolate and a small gift to top it all off. Apparently Saint Nikolaus doesn’t mind a mug with milk and some biscuits upon arrival during the nightly hours.

Should you find yourself putting out shoes in the Netherlands, you’d need to remember that Saint Nikolaus will be coming through the chimney so he’d appreciate it if you’d help your children place their shoes (or socks) at the fireplace. In addition, he apparently arrives with a white horse who really fancies carrots and water. Children are furthermore encouraged to sing their Saint Nikolaus songs loudly into the chimney as if to call the bearer of gits and sweet deliciousness.

I heard my little one sing a Saint Nikolaus song which he learnt from school a few nights ago during bath time and saw the excitement on his sweet face when the festive socks on the school door suddenly and mysteriously hung a little heavier a few days ago. This is such a totally magical time of the year, and especially when you are three years old and your imagination as wide as the ocean.

Laid out a blanket for old Saint Nikolaus in front of our door tonight, a mug filled with sweet milk, carrots for his horse (gosh and if he has no horse then he could do with some carrots instead of biscuits) and three shiny shoes, one for my little one, one for my husband and one for me…because we all deserve some magic.

Ps. If there are any other German moms reading this who have more detail to add to my preparations for next year, please feel free to contribute 😉