Mikulás Nap - Saint Nicholas Day

Today is Saint Nicholas day. Or as in my native Hungary they call it: Mikulás Napja.

Maybe you wonder why your Santa Claus picture is here today then. Let me give a little explanation, as Hungarian customs differ from those of US, and many others around the World (yes, there is few similar to ours as well).

Saint Nicholas was a living person, in fact a Catholic bishop in the 3rd century. He was famous of helping and giving to everyone. Should you want to know more about him, a search on the net would come up with near 4 million results just for Saint Nicholas alone.

But how this whole thing has do anything with today. First, today is the nameday of Nicholas (Miklós in Hungary), and the previous night just before is the night when parents leave presents in for the kids, in the windows, or in their boots. Unlike in many other countries, in Hungary Santa Claus (Mikulás) not coming on Christmas Day, but kids "meet Him" on the 6th of December. These presents they get is mostly chocolate Santa figurines, and candies, for the good kids, or "virgács" for the bad kids; this later is a bunch of thin wood brunches, serves to hit the bad ones! Anyway, it is maybe a playful reminder there only, chocolate is the winner.

And then what about the present and Christmas?

In Hungary, not Santa Clause the one who brings them! We get the presents from the Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve, on the 24th December. Maybe in this it is better for Hungarian kids, having 2 special days in December.