December, 6th

[MissHoneychurch]

Here in Germany that day is a pre-Christmas. Kids are supposed to put their clean shoes (the clean is important, the only time the year kids clean their shoes without giving trouble) outside the door. In the night from the 5th to the 6th Nikolaus is coming and puts gifts (mainly sweets) into the shoes if the kid was nice over the year. If it wasn't, then the kid gets a birch.

Nikolaus


kid getting the shoe/boot ready


filled shoe


birch



So have you been nice this year?

[SeattleGirl]

1. Hey sweetie!

How are you? :loveya: :hug: :loveya:

[MissHoneychurch]

6. I am doing fine

thanks for asking

:loveya: :hug: :loveya:

Talked to a friend yesterday I haven't talked to since August. 2 hours on the phone.

[Heidi]

2. Oh, crap! I forgot that it's "Samiklaus" Day!

Yikes! We always give our goddaughters a little something on this day. Thanks for the reminder, gf! :hug:

[SeattleGirl]

3. Get to it, girlie!

Don't want to disappoint those goddaughters! :loveya:

[Heidi]

4. It's RAINING cats and dogs!

Maybe I'll give 'em cash.

:loveya: gf! :*

Lazy Heidi ;)

[SeattleGirl]

5. Cash is always good!

Especially as they get older. They can go get themselves what they really want!

:loveya: :* :loveya: back atcha, gf!!!

[MissHoneychurch]

7. No problem

the stores are open now, I guess you can jump into the car and get a little something.

So that means you forgot to give Ginger something also???


:hug:

[Heidi]

8. Hahahahaha!

We have ordered Ginger's Christmas gifts, but he doesn't get anything for Samiklaus Day. What he gets for Christmas, though, are a toy that he's been wanting (we're _sure_ he wants it, even though he hasn't said so), and new "lammi" (I don't know what you call it, but it's a fleecey lambskin that he sleeps on, and his old one is completely worn out and nearly bald from him "fighting" it every night before he goes to sleep).

Yes, our boy is spoiled. :blush:

[MissHoneychurch]

9. He is your baby

so it is your right to spoil him.

And he gives the love back, so what else can you ask for? That is, from a cat :D

[Heidi]

10. You understand completely.

Maybe we should also give him a new Evil Orange Silk String. He's just about worn the old one out. :scared:

[MissHoneychurch]

11. Now that would be a perfect gift

for today. Dontcha think?

And that Evil Orange Silk String fits so perfectly to his eyes .... :D

[Heidi]

13. I'll steal one out of his Nonna's sewing box!

GREAT IDEA! :bounce:

:rofl:

[MissHoneychurch]

14. See, the day is saved

:rofl:

I bet he wouldn't mind a birch either :rofl:

[Guava Jelly]

12. i'm never nice

:7
good morning MissH

[MissHoneychurch]

15. Good morning GoP

I know you aren't. Otherwise I would believe you are sick :rofl:

[Guava Jelly]

19. I am sick

:silly: :crazy: :dunce:
but that makes me fun :7

[MissHoneychurch]

20. So you ARE nice

now I am not sure if Nikolaus approves of lying but in your reagard I make sure to put in a nice word for you

:D

:loveya:

[Guava Jelly]

21. thanks miss H

I got my shoe outside the door.
Heck maybe he will put the gorgeous MissH in it for me :7

[MissHoneychurch]

22. I think

you would have to go searching for me in that thing, I might get lost :rofl:

[Guava Jelly]

24. Hide and seek can be fun

What do i win when i find ya :evilgrin: :7
a smooch?

[MissHoneychurch]

25. At least

[Guava Jelly]

26. woo hoo!!

I may even floss :7 :rofl: :blush:
thanks santa :)

[MissHoneychurch]

27. You better

:rofl:

and why do you thank Santa????? Am I an ancient man with a long white beard???? Huh????

[Guava Jelly]

28. Far from that

They don't call you Misshoneychurch for nothing.
Ok I'll floss and even take a shower or maybe We should do that together :7
Floss I mean :silly: :sarcasm:

[MissHoneychurch]

29. I wouldn't want to miss that

:rofl:

[Guava Jelly]

30. :o)

:rofl:
me neither

[SeattleGirl]

18. LIAR! You are very often nice!

So there! :P

[Guava Jelly]

23. woooha ha ha ha My rouse is working.

:evilgrin: people think i'm nice :7
good morning seattlesexy :hi:

[BarenakedLady]

57. LIAR

You are ALWAYS nice.

:hug:

[hfojvt]

16. it depends who you ask

I helped to make this guy almost cry. Maybe he even cried in private.








My Republican Congressman, that is, who went down to ignominous defeat. I also wrote a couple letters about him that were not very nice. Truthful, but not nice. I think Nikolaus would approve since his name means "a victory for the people".

[MissHoneychurch]

17. Oh he would definitely approve

beside you were nice since you went and voted. So that definitely counts twice :D

[buddhamama]

31. my 8th grade teacher was German

as part of the our class holiday celebration she told us the story of Saint Nik, complete with appropriate attire (an older German woman) German accent, mixed with actual German and a pair of shoes from her childhood.

I have been good this yr, i swear. O8)

Hi MHC! :hi: :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

32. So you say you were good this year

any proof??? :evilgrin:



:hi: buddhamama :hug:

[buddhamama]

34. i have no proof

but i do have a clean pair of boots. :D

[MissHoneychurch]

36. You are expecting a lot of coal

aren't you :rofl:

[GenDem]

50. The Kindergarten teacher at the school I teach at

does this every year with her students. Before nap time they put one of their shoes outside the classroom. That's where I come in. I'm the art teacher across the hall. I then get to play St Nick and fill all the shoes up with treats. They howl with joy upon discovering the treats in their shoes.

[MissHoneychurch]

51. That is soo sweet

isn't is a blessing to see the joy in their faces??

[GenDem]

64. It really is....

they are so excited and it is not eploitive...a sticker, a new pencil, a little tootsie roll, and a sucker. They were all thrilled beyond belief. Ahhh the simple pleasures.

Alas...wait a few short years and they will want PS-2's (or whatever that new game thing is that everyone is going crazy to get) and the corporate greed machine will take them.

[Callalily]

33. What a quaint

tradition. I suspect if I leave my clean shoes outside my door, they'll be filled with coal.

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

35. I can't believe you've been that bad

:dilemma:

But maybe you just weren't telling me everything :evilgrin:

Good morning Simply

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[Callalily]

49. Well, actually

I haven't been that bad, although I do think I'd get some coal. Maybe I'm only wishing I was that bad.

And a big to you too.

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[miss_american_pie]

37. Good morning

I suspect we all know I'm more naughty than nice, so what would you have received in your shoe, Miss HC?

[MissHoneychurch]

38. Good morning m_a_p

Now how am I supposed to know? Was it a good way of naughty???

Would that be appropriate? :evilgrin:

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. My parents did this with us, and I continue it with my kids...

A little something special for them. :D They get a small game and/or toiletry and a bit of candy. :hi: :hug:

[Bassic]

41. Hey MrsG, how are ya?

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. I'm good Bassic!

:hi:

It's nice to see you around! Thanks for asking. How are you?

[Bassic]

45. Pretty good

Busy preparing Kid-Bassic's first Christmas :D

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. How fun!!! Those are the best Christmas' ever!

:hi: :hug:

[Bassic]

48. I know it really brings the magic back

:D

[MissHoneychurch]

43. Good morning MrsGrumpy

I think it is a sweet tradition. DId you put coal in their shoes as well?

I remember when I was a kid my grandma made a advent calendar for me, my brother and my cousin. She sewed little bags on a line and filled them with sweets and small items. I miss those.

:hug: :hi:

[Bassic]

40. Here in Québec (not sure about other provinces)

It is the sad anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre.

But Pre-Christmas sounds much more fun :D

[MissHoneychurch]

44. Please enlighten me

about the Polytechnique massacre .... were you involved? :evilgrin:

[Bassic]

47. Happily, no

Here's a link on the whole tragedy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecole_Polytechnique_Massacre

Every year, on this day, a remebrance vigil is held in Montréal.

[u4ic]

65. A very sad day

indeed. :(

[crim son]

52. My roommates in Boston would celebrate St. Nick's.

They'd hang up their stockings and in the evening we'd have a bunch of people over for warm alcoholic beverages. It was very nice and put everybody in a holiday mood. Thanks for reminding me. :pals:

[MissHoneychurch]

53. My pleasure

I believe it is a wonderful tradition. Too bad I am not living near my mom or I would get a filled shoe :D

:pals:

[wildhorses]

54. Hello MissHoneychurch

pics were not ready yesterday---get a 10% discount today for having to wait. hopefully kodak easy share will cooperate on my 'pooter and i will start a thread today :blush:

[MissHoneychurch]

55. Good morning wildhorses

Don't worry. I mean I can't wait to see the pictures but there is no rush.

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

56. I think I'd be afraid to look in my shoe this year.

:yoiks:

Well I guess I can use the birch for sweeping up or riding across the moonlight in my big black pointy hat.

Maybe I can make up for it in the upcoming year. :shrug:

[MissHoneychurch]

61. I bet you make a very sexy witch

[BarenakedLady]

63. Barenaked of course

[AirmensMom]

58. Yes, I have been.

But St. Nick forgot to stop at my house this year. I think the move got him all confused. :shrug: :cry: I LOVE that tradition! We used to do it when I was a child and lived in Munich. :bounce:

[MissHoneychurch]

62. Awww

maybe Santa Clause will make up for it :D

[Brewman_Jax]

59. I didn't know that

I find learning different cultural customs fascinating. :think:

:hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

60. Did you know we get our presents on Christmas Eve

instead of Christmas Day in Germany? It sucked to have to wait one more night when I was in the U.S. during Christmas and it is way more fun to get the presents in the evening than in the morning when only half awake. Except for the kids that is.

:hi: