The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ST. NICHOLAS DAY: ALLGAU BAVARIA, GERMANY

ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE ST. NICHOLAS DAY, THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD
SHOW UP. AFTER THE SUN WOULD SET (7:00 OR 7:30 P.M.), THE BAD
NICHOLAS WOULD COME THROUGH THE TOWN RATTLING CHAINS ON THE SHUTTERS
AND MAKING OTHER WEIRD NOISES.
ON THE EVE OF ST. NICHOLAS DAY, THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD FINALLY MAKE
HIS APPEARANCE. HE WOULD BE WEARING RAGS, OLD BOOTS AND A LONG,
LONG BEARD. HE RESEMBLED A SCARECROW.
THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD COME INTO EACH HOME AND ASK THE CHILDREN
IF THEY WERE GOOD OR BAD. HE WOULD HAVE THE CHILDREN SO SCARED,
THEY WOULD SOMETIMES GET ON THEIR KNEES AND PRAY.
AFTER THE BAD NICHOLAS WOULD LEAVE, THE CHILDREN WOULD HURRY TO GET
READY FOR THE COMING OF THE GOOD NICHOLAS. EACH CHILD WOULD GET A
DISH AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE WITH HIS NAME IN FRONT OF HIS DISH.
THEN THE CHILDREN WOULD GO TO BED.
ABOUT 4:30 A.M. THE CHILDREN WOULD GET UP AND LOOK FOR THE GIFTS
THE GOOD NICHOLAS BROUGHT THEM. EACH DISH WOULD BE FILLED WITH
APPLES, WALNUTS, LEBKUCHEN AND A TOY (HORSE OR WAGON FOR A BOY;
DOLL FOR A GIRL). ALL THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY WITH THEIR TOYS UNTIL
IT WAS TIME FOR SCHOOL.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, EVERYONE WAS VERY HAPPY THAT DAY.

Data entry tech comment: ST. NICHOLAS DAY, DEC. 6.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 10-10-1968