Postcard, Hungary Rosenthal Collection

Candy Package Mikulás Cukor St Nicholas Center Collection

Children in Hungary carefully polish their best boot and put it on the windowsill to be filled by St. Nicholas, Szent Mikulás, on December 6th. The good bishop comes with a big sack full of presents and a large record book with children's good and bad deeds. He used to come with two helpers: a good angel who helps give out presents and a bad Krampus devil who makes mischief. Now it seems mostly to be the Krampusz.

In the morning good children find candies, tangerines, oranges, walnuts, apples, chocolate Mikulás figures, peanuts, and small presents. Naughty children find twigs painted gold or a wooden spoon. Most children get some of each as no one is all good or all bad.

Mikulás-day is also celebrated in schools and day care centers. Children sing Mikulás songs and individual children may say poems and sing songs, as well. St. Nicholas calls them by name and has a personal message for each child. He may stay to play or watch a movie with the children.

In the cities Bishop Mikulás is getting more confused with Santa; it is common to see Santa-type figures with bishop's croziers.

back to top