Jolly Old St. Nick

My father comes from Germany.  His father, my grandfather, was a German man who brought his traditions and his wife to this country.  Besides my appearance, however,  there isn't much German about me.  I tried to pick up this language in school, but it confounded me. I don't especially relate to sauerkraut or knockwurst.  The polka never held my interest.

The month of December, though, shows my German heritage.  We start the month with a sacred day:  St. Nicolas Day.  It is December 6th.  St. Nick will come to your door and leave treats.  He will ring the doorbell and run away before you have time to run down the stairs and answer the door, leaving you a package of oranges, peppermint sticks, the first eggnog of the season.  A Ding Dong Ditch with benefits! Imagine three little kids in their pajamas waiting at the top of the stairs for that doorbell to ring.  We wanted so badly  to catch him!  There's my father, grinning at the dinner table, who suddenly shouts:  "I think I just saw him out the window!"  And we clamber down the stairs to open the door to the snow and the chilling wind.

It never occurred to me that other children were missing this benchmark evening. Until I started this tradition myself, I hadn't thought to ask my dad how he managed, every year, to be in two places at once. (another reason to be friends with your neighbors...or have two doors with a doorbell!) Once I pondered the loot that arrived, I realized that, really.... just fruit and nuts? I was so excited for fruit and nuts?!?  There's a lot to be said for anticipation!
For me, the Christmas season doesn't start until St. Nick has visited.  He represents the glee, the delight in pure expectation, the joy in simple things:  clementines, nuts, candy canes, eggnog, and hard cider... for mommy.   Hmmm...that St. Nick!  He somehow knows what we like!   He may even tuck in an ornament for each little one.

December 6th is the day we decorate our tree.  The Christmas music starts today and won't stop for 20 days. (Honestly, I never tire of Charlie Brown...) We open our Advent Calendar--that countdown to Christmas Day.  We are in the starting block: cookie decorating, gingerbread houses, champagne,  fruitcake, carols on the piano, sitting in the dark of our living room with a twinkling tree...

My parents will call and ask, "Did St. Nicolas come?"  My father giggles.  Now I do too.  Of course he did!