In Germany St. Nicholas Day is a big thing: Children put out a (well polished) shoe outside their home on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, hoping to find candy or a small gift or both in it the very next morning.
Today is St. Nicholas Day. And of course this year, as every year, we were St. Nicholas was well prepared to fill J‘s sneaker.
Now try to imagine how M and I felt when we found wrapped little gifts in our (!) shoes too! Here’s what I had:
I guess that answers the question I have been asking myself whether J still believes in Santa Claus and the like … Kind of sad, I know – he’s growing up waaaaay too fast – but you should have seen him this morning, beaming with delight that he had been able to surprise us.
To quote Martin Luther: – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 🙂
A wonderful St. Nicholas Day to all of you out there!
That’s really neat! I’d never heard of the shoe tradition before. It’s sweet that he was excited about giving!
Awwwwww bless him! It’s so lovely when they surprise you like that.
The story from my German relatives when I was little was that if you’re naughty you get a lump of coal in your shoes from St Nic, is that what parents say?
I never heard of that before. I am more familiar with “Knecht Ruprecht” accompanying St. Nicholas (to school or kindergarden), asking children whether they have been good all year, threatening to beat them with a stick if not. But I don’t think that is still done.
I hope not!!!!!