,,,and all the last few years I've posted this picture of a homemade Candy House.
Let me explain: Hans and I made a candy house for our two grandchildren (Britney who is a mother of her own two children, Henry and Heidi and her brother Grant, who also is married and has one daughter, our little Carmen.
We carried this tradition over from when we were children in Germany.
Now to the history of St. Nicholas Day. Wikipedia can explain it much better than I can:
St. Nicholas Day, a feast day (December 6) of St. Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra. St. Nichols is the patron saint of Russia and Greece, of a number of cities, and of sailors and children, among many other groups, and was noted for his generosity. Some countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 5. Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.
After the Reformation, St. Nicholas was largely forgotten in Protestant Europe, although his memory was kept alive in Holland as Sinterklaas. There St. Nicholas is said to arrive on horseback on his feast day, dressed in a bishop’s red robe and mitre and accompanied by Black Peter (Zwarte Piet), variously described as a freed slave or a Moor, to help him distribute sweets and presents to good children or lumps of coal, potatoes, or switches to bad ones. The Dutch took the tradition to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the American colonies, where he was transformed into Santa Claus by the English-speaking majority. His legend of a kindly old man was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. The resulting image of Santa Claus in the United States crystallized in the 19th century, and he has ever since remained the patron of the gift-giving festival of Christmas. In Britain he was largely replaced with Father Christmas.
It is thought that over the centuries the legendary St. Nicholas was merged with similar cultural and religious figures. Significant among these were the pagan Knecht Ruprecht and the Roman figure of Befana, as well as the Christ Child (Christkind, or Kris Kringle). A number of countries have traditions in which a malevolent character accompanies St. Nicholas. In France, Père Fouettard, who legend holds tried to cook three boys in a barrel of brine, is said to whip naughty children or give them coal. In Germany, Knecht Ruprecht serves as St. Nicholas’s servant and gives children who do not know their prayers sticks, stones, or coal. The terrifying devil-like Krampus is common in many central European counties and carries chains, bells, and sometimes a large basket with which to threaten naughty children.
Fascinating stuff Bruni, I love how the old traditions merge and change over the years and in different countries but basically have the same roots.
A lovely sweet shot too, fav.
Great story - Father Christmas is really quite apart from the real reason of Christmas. Going into the story is quite fascinating - the word Jesus and the word Christ!
This photo is adorable!
A lovely sweet shot too, fav.
This photo is adorable!
Lovely capture of the cute kids,