Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-24
1T. 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 eowries, by secretly leaving a
marriage portion for each at 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 venerable beard, and dressed
as a 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 a sheet instead
Of surplice, with crushed pillow on
his head instead of mitre. On his
calling out, "Wllt thou pray?" all
the children fall upon their knees,
whereupon he lets fall some fruit upon
the floor and disappears. In this man
ner he goes from house to house,
sometimes ringing bell to announce
his arrival, visits the nurseries, in
quires into the conduct of the children,
praises or 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 Sonner 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 "Eoly Man," and shares
the patronage of his office with St.
Lucy, who distributes gifts among the
girls, as he among the boys. Some
times be 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 credi t.,
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 fantastlcal forms, from which
the good saint may from time to time
replenish his supplies. AS to the
children, St Nicholas or Sunder Ilaas
is the burden of their prayers, the
staple of their dreams, and the inspira-
tlon of their songs. AS they iynportune
him to let fall from his chimney-top
some pretty gift into their little
aprons, they go on singing with child
ish fervor,
Sunder Klaas du code Bloot
Breng mi Moot I'm Zuckerbrod,
Nlcht to veel un Mich to minn
Smlet 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
filing them with hay, oats or carrots for
the saints white horse, they put them
on table or set them in the fire place.
The room IS then carefully closed and
the door locked Next morning it is
opened in the presence of the assem-
bled household, when, variable d5ctu!
the furniture is found to be turned
topsy-turvy, while the little shoes, in
stead of horses forage, are filled with
rods for the bad ones. In some places
wooden Or China 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.
Hdrper's for January.