On December 5th children in Germany clean their shoes or winter boots and put them outside their door. Why do they do that?
Well, on December 6th is Saint Nicholas' feast day, and that worthy gentleman celebrates his day by visiting the children and hiding goodies in their shoes. Since the 6th starts at midnight - and he has so many children to visit - shoes and boots have to go out at bedtime!
What goes in the shoes? Apples, oranges, gingerbread cookies and very often a chocolate Nikolaus figure. Here is an apple for you. Go ahead and put it in your shoe!
Tomorrow I will tell you more about Saint Nicholas. For today, it is time to look for the little door on the Advent Calendar. Here is number 5:
A gingerbread man and some apples are falling out of the bag... 
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Comments: 24
I stayed with a German family for two Christmases and know a little of what you're writing so well about. Those gingerbread men are delicious.
What I remember is that on the 1st you get a bowl of nuts. On each advent you have some of them.
As a raw S. African and a famished student, I ate them all on one day.
I love this series of yours. Its making Christmas come alive for me.
Cristina
You forgot the Christkindl, Krampus...and other such fun things that also happen on the sixth.
But then- Krampus is an Austrian thing.
I love Lebukuchen.. and I also love Gingerbread men. I remember Oma always had a Gingerbread Mann for me...
And ja.. I have apples and oranges on hand..and when I eat one- I will think of this- but then, of course, with the sixth coming- I will eat one.
The sixth is kind of family thing- and even though its related to the holidays- it is also a time of rememberance too. If I were in Wien- I would be taking a walk out to Sankt Marxer on that particular day.
Have a great Sankt Nikolaus Tag!
Servus!
Wolfgang
No worries! Coming up tomorrow!
Ciao,
Cristina
Happy holidays
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Ha! I knew about the shoes outside the door thing! The kids have a book that tells them how they celebrate Christmas in other countries and that's in there. I need to read that book to them again, now that I think about it.
Thanks for posting this to "All Photo Essays Here".
I gotta remember to come back every day.
I have been absent from Gather for about four days...too much wind...too much rain...so I am way behind on checking out everyone's stuff. And have missed much good content!
There have been years- when I was growing up that I recieved the sticks, potatos and coal instead of the candies, fruits and plesantries from Krampus/Sankt Nikolaus.
I don't know- maybe its just a boy thing- but little girls just didn't seem to get those..at least not much.
what is sad- is I really deserved them. ;P
I just love Advent....one of my fondest memories is singing with the Boys Chor--that was an honor that year, the Advent stories.
Enjoy!
And may the Christkindl bless you..
Ciao!
Wolfie
Marianne, thank you! That is very motivating!
Thanks Marilyn!