'The Christ Child brings the presents!', says Elise. 'No, Santa Claus!', replies Felicitas. The girls are sitting in kindergarten by the picture books in the cozy corner and just can't agree. 'Yes, exactly!', says Lilli. 'Last Christmas we still lived in Washington and there Santa came with his reindeer sleigh.' 'And then there's St. Nicholas too,' adds Imke, who is sitting next to Lilli. 'I like St. Nicholas too,' says Elise, 'but at Christmas the Christ Child definitely comes!' Felicitas gets angry, jumps up and stamps her foot on the floor.
'Children, shh, don't argue,' calls caregiver Nina. She goes to the cozy corner and sits down next to the girls. 'Felicitas, come, sit next to me and then we'll talk about the different Christmas customs. Because you know what, children? Who brings presents when during the Christmas season and when they are opened is different – depending on where you live.' 'Really?', asks Felicitas. She can hardly believe it.
Nina calls the other children together too and everyone makes themselves comfortable in the cozy corner. Then she begins to tell: 'In the past, with the knights in the Middle Ages, there was only Saint Nicholas in Germany. People would put boots or a plate out on the evening of December 5th and then find nuts or apples there the next morning. In some regions this custom has persisted to this day.' 'Yes, that's how I do it too!', calls Elise. 'Yes, true!', Felicitas has to admit as well. 'But St. Nicholas doesn't bring Christmas presents,' she adds defiantly. 'Not anymore today,' explains Nina. 'It used to be different. The story of how the Christ Child came to be invented is a bit complicated. In any case, the Christ Child is today above all the gift-bringer in southern Germany and in Austria, while in northern and eastern Germany and also in other parts of the world people are more likely to believe in Santa Claus. By the way, he doesn't look the same everywhere; in France, for example, he wears a red cloak with a pointed cap.' 'But in the USA he wears a red jacket and trousers. And he rides in a sleigh pulled by reindeer,' says Lilli. 'Santa goes from house to house on the night of December 24th, slides down the chimney and then leaves the presents. My American friends and also my brother Steven, my parents and I always only opened them the next morning.'
The girls are astonished. 'Really? In the USA children only open the presents on the morning of December 25th?', asks Imke. 'Yes,' confirms Nina, 'and in our Germany when are the presents opened?' 'On Christmas Eve!', shout the children. Nina smiles: 'Of course you know that. But imagine: in Spain children used to have to wait until January 6th for their presents.' 'Why is that?', Elise wants to know. 'In Spain the Three Wise Men traditionally bring the presents. The children leave out water and bread on the evening of January 5th and then find presents the next morning, on January 6th.' 'That's almost like our St. Nicholas!', calls Imke.
Nina nods: 'So you see, the traditions are very different and everyone may celebrate Christmas the way they want. In other regions of the world or among people who have a different religion, Christmas is celebrated completely differently. In China, for example, the festival for the New Year is much more important than Christmas. But I have another interesting story for you,' says the caregiver and tells: 'In Italy in some towns and villages it's not the Three Wise Men who come, but the witch Befana.' 'What, a witch?', asks Matze astonished. 'Witches have nothing to do with Christmas!' 'Yes they do, in Italy they do. I'll look up the story and then I'll read it to you tomorrow,' promises Nina.
'That's quite a Christmas muddle!', exclaims Felicitas and hops up and down on the cuddle cushion. 'Christmas muddle! Christmas muddle! Christmas muddle!', she sings. Elise and Lilli immediately join in. 'Stop, you crazy hens. That's enough hopping now,' calls caregiver Nina laughing. 'First you can run around in the garden outside and afterward we'll make St. Nicholas boots out of felt.' 'No, no, no... not St. Nicholas boots,' shouts Felicitas. 'I'll only make Santa boots!', she says giggling. 'But Imke and I will make St. Nicholas boots, right?', asks Elise and runs after Felicitas. 'Well, Felicitas shouldn't be surprised if St. Nicholas doesn't bring her any chocolate. He doesn't like cheeky children!', says Imke shaking her head. 'Well, St. Nicholas is generous and Felicitas isn't naughty all the time,' says Nina and winks. 'Felicitas isn't naughty all the time? Really? I hadn't noticed that at all,' says Lilli giggling and looks forward to the German St. Nicholas.
Instructions for St. Nicholas and Santa Boots
If you feel like it, you can act out the story with the Little Friends dolls or make felt boots. For that there's the Instructions for St. Nicholas and Santa Boots to make, which shows step-by-step how it's done.
