Santa.txt
(c) 2000, Meggie Hoetzl
Extracted from a personal letter to Rebel One
(NOTE:  Meggie thinks in German and writes in English; if you pay attention
        you can read her accent)

Today I will tell you about our Santa Claus Day(s) what we normally do.  
During the evenings on the 05. and 06.12. some people (mostly men) get 
dressed themselves in the "Nikolaus" (Santa Clause) costume. Normally 
the German's Nikolaus have a cumpleano/companion who accompanies him. 
Nikolaus comrade is called "Rupprecht" he is responsible for the "bad" 
children an order to make the children afraid of both (Nikolaus & 
Rupprecht). The Nikolaus normally has a big bag full of little things 
like oranges, nuts, sweets; Rupprecht has a big chain wrapped around his 
body which makes a loud noise step by step. (His face is normally 
painted black and looks very awful and frightened)He also has a bundle 
of rods in his hands with which the badly behaved children get a soft 
slap on their buttock- if there are really bad children the Rupprecht 
will put them into Nikolaus bag and carry them outside.. (that's the 
worsest case - I never was put into Nikolaus bag - only sometimes I got 
some slaps from Rupprecht..)

When the Nikolaus comes into the house, the children normally has to 
sing a song or say a short poem or play a song on an instrument for the 
Nikolaus and after you get presents. The Nikolaus will be normally 
ordered by the parents (they get a fixed time when the Nikolaus & Co. 
will come..) and the parents give him the presents just before enterring 
their house.  That is if you would like to have a professional Nikolaus, 
in other families the fathers or uncles or cousins or somebody else take 
this role and play the Nikolaus for the children. But mostly the 
children recognize the voice of their fathers or uncles etc..

Children are clever  nowadays and the most know the truths a long time 
before so that they are not frightened any more or are very cheeky, say 
bad things to the Nikolaus or regret to sing or to play on their 
instruments but of course the presents should be nice and up-to-date.  
Time changed.   I can remember, my father played my Nikolaus and we 
always got fruits and nuts and a chocolate santa claus. It was exciting 
for me and I liked it. But now it is different...

This day also lost its glamour, everything has been commerical now - 
they push everything up (I hope you understand what I mean)   Other 
children put their shoes outside the door and wait that Santa Claus will 
fill their shoes..  It depends where you live here - some towns have 
other traditions like we here..  Or some do not do any Nikolaus!

In Germany the christ-child normally "brings" the Christmas presents on 
Christmas Eve that is what the little children will be told from their 
parents.  I think in America the Santa Claus brings the presents.

But that's enough now about Christmas I only wanted to tell you about 
our "traditions" here - perhaps you are interesting in knowing it..