page_title: Saint Nicholas Day
section_title: Eastern Europe
hierarchical_section_title: Saint Nicholas Day / Traditions by continent / Europe / Eastern Europe
caption_attribution_description: English: Saint Nikola with children in Ečka, Vojvodina, Serbia
context_page_description: Saint Nicholas Day, also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, is observed on 6 December or on the eve of 5 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar. It is the feast day of Nicholas of Myra with particular regard to his reputation as a bringer of gifts.
  In the European countries of Germany and Poland, boys have traditionally dressed as bishops and begged alms for the poor. In Ukraine, children wait for St. Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year. Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands, Dutch children put out a clog filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas' horse. On Saint Nicholas Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender. In the United States, one custom associated with Saint Nicholas Day is children leaving their shoes in the foyer on Saint Nicholas Eve in hope that Saint Nicholas will place some coins on the soles.
  The American Santa Claus, as well as the British Father Christmas, derive from Saint Nicholas.
context_section_description: In Slovenia, Miklavž (Sveti Miklavž) and in Croatia, Nikolaus (Sveti Nikola) who visits on Saint Nicholas day (Nikolinje in Croatia and "Miklavževanje" in Slovenia) brings gifts to children commending them for their good behavior over the past year and exhorting them to continue in the same manner in the year to come. If they fail to do so they will receive a visit from "Parkelj" or Krampus who traditionally leaves a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them.
  In Hungary, Croatia, Ukraine and Romania, children typically leave their boots on the windowsill on the evening of 5 December. By next morning Nikolaus (Szent Miklós traditionally but more commonly known as Mikulás in Hungary or Moş Nicolae (Sfântul Nicolae) in Romania) and in Ukraine Svyatyy Mykolay leaves candy and gifts if they have been good, or a rod (Hungarian: virgács, Romanian: nuieluşǎ) if they have been bad (most children end up getting small gifts, but also a small rod). In Hungary and Croatia he is often accompanied by the Krampusz, the frightening helper who is out to take away the bad ones.
  In Slovenia, Saint Nikolaus (Miklavž) is accompanied by an angel and a devil (parkelj) corresponding to the Austrian Krampus.
  In Ukraine, St Nicholas (Mykolay) visits good children during the night (18–19 December [O.S. 5–6 December]) and puts presents under the pillow. For the naughty children Mykolay brings a rod (Rizka) so parents can use it to discipline them. Usually Mykolay is accompanied by an Angel (Janhol) and a Devil (Chort).
caption: Mikulás in Ečka (Vojvodina – Serbia) brings joy to children in 2010.
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