River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-12-23
N. Nicholas.

~. Nicholas.
st. Nicholas, as all the world knows.
is the patron of children, with whom
he is the most popular saint in the cal.
endar. Bishop of Myra, in Lycia, in
the time of Constanstine the Great, if
we are to credit the Roman breviary,
he supplied three destitute maidens
with Cowries, by secretly leaving a
marriage portion for each mt their
window. Hence the popular fiction
that he is the purveyor Of presents TO
children on Christmas eve. He usually
makes his appearance as an old man
with a venerable beard, and dressed
as bishop, either riding white horse
or an ass, and carrying large basket
on his arm, and bundle of rods in his
hand. In some parts of Bohemia he
appears dressed up in sheet instead
OF surplice, with crushed pillow on
his head instead of a mitre. On his
calling out, "Wilt thou pray 2" all
the children fall upon their knees,
whereupon he let's fall some fruit upon
the floor and disappears. In this man.
ner he goes from house to house,
]
his arrival, visits the nurseries, in.
quires into tho conduct OF the children,
praises OF admonishes them, as the
case may be, distributing sweet meats
or rods accordingly.
st. Nicholas is the Santa Claus of
Holland, and the Semiklaus of Swift.
zerland. and the Souner Klas of Heligo-
land. In the Voralberg he is known
as Zemmiklas, who threatens to put
naughty children into his hay.sack in
Neither Austria as Niklo, who is follow
ed by masked servant called Kram-
pus; while in Tyrol he goes by the
name of the Holy Man, and shares
the patronage of his office with st.
Lucy, who distributes gifts among the
girls, as he among the boys. Some.
times he is accompanied by the Christ
child.
In many parts of Switzerland, Ger
many, and the Netherlands, st. Nicholas
still distributes his presents on st.
Nicholas Eve. In the Netherlands and
adjoining provinces he is especially
popular, and is perhaps the only saint
who has maintained his full credit,
even among the Professionals. For days
previous to his expected advent, busy
housewives have been secretly conspir-
ing with the bakers in gliding nuts,
cakes, and gingerbread, and torturing
pastry, prepared with -four, sugar,
honey, spices, and sweetmeats, into
the most fantastical forms, from which
the good saint may from time to time
replenish his supplies. As to the
/ children, st. Nicholas or Sunder Klaas
is the burden of their prayers, the
staple of their dreams, and the inspira-
tion of their songs. AS they importune
him to let fall from his chimney-top
some pretty gift into their little
aprons, they so on singing with child
ISL fervor,
g Sunder Klaas du code Bloot
Breng mi Moot IN ZuckeTbrod,
Ncht TO veel un mich 10 Mum
Smiet in mine Schorten in !"
In Belgium, on the eve of the bishops
aerial voyage in his pastoral visitation
of his bishopric of chimney tops, the
children polish their shoes, and after
/ filling them with hay, oats or carrots for
the saints white horse, they put them
on a table or set them in the fire place.
The room is then carefully closed and
the door locked. Next morning il is
opened In the presence of the assem-
bled household, when, nsirdb5Le dictul
the furniture is found TO be turned
topsy-turvy, while the little shoes, in
stead of horses forage, are filed with
rods for the bad ones. In some places
wooden or Chine shoes, stockings,
baskets, cups and saucers, and even
bundles of hay, are placed in the Chin
ney, or by the side of the bed, or in a
corner of the room, as the favorite re-
ceptacles of st. Nicholas presents. -
/ HurDcr's for Jdnu0rg.