Dec 6: Santa Claus Is Coming To Hungary — Our Wanders
So the 6th of December in Hungary. The time when we as good kids used to polish our shoes and put them by the window. Because during the night Santa will come secretly and fill them with sweets. Of course, only if they are nicely polished. Otherwise he fills them with twigs, coals, garlic or onion — the point is that it’s something kids definitely don’t like. Of course, we have no idea what Santa actually brings to bad kids since we were good ones and always polished our shoes perfectly as such. At least on the 6th of December each year. 😛
Advertisements 6th of December in Hungary: Saint Nicholas’ Day
This day is known as Saint Nicholas’ Day in Hungary. Mikulás, the Hungarian version of Santa Claus, gives presents to good kids and punishes bad kids. Its assistant is called the Krampusz,and he’s a mean elf who punishes bad children. According to some very strict grandparents, the Krampusz actually kidnaps them. However, most kids turn out to be good, as we can remember. So they are right to be excited about the 6 thof December.
Hungarian Santa Claus and Christmas
They are two separate holidays. Our Santa Claus in Hungary is long gone by Christmas Day. Still, a beautiful Christmas tree and another round of presents are brought to each house by Christ Child and his angels. It’s not a bad thing to be a kid in Hungary, after all. Adults are not that lucky though, because there’s no official holiday for the 6 thof December, only for Christmas Day.
What do they call Santa Claus in Hungary?
The Hungarian Santa Claus looks quite similar to its other European and American fellows, dressed in red robes. Originally it’s called Mikulás whose name originates from Saint Nicholas, the bishop of Myra in Greece (modern day Turkey) who is remembered as the patron of children and students. During the comunist era, ‘Mikulás’ was replaced by ‘Télapó’ which originates from the words ‘winter’ and ‘father’, because the original name was considered too Christian. Today both names are used. However, there’s no Mrs. Mikulás in Hungary.
Krampus in Hungary
So the Hungarian Santa is believed to have a demon-like partner called Krampus (spelled Krampusz in Hungarian). He’s half a man and half a goat, and while children are looking forward to meeting with Santa, they dread Krampus. Though scaring children with the arrival of Krampus is less common as in the previous decades, Krampus is not forgotten. He also exists in the Austrian and German traditions.
What kind of presents does the Hungarian Santa Claus typically give?
So Santa visits Hungarian families during the night, and he leaves presents in the boots put on the windowsill. The presents are typically small: peanuts, walnuts, apples and tangerines are the traditional gifts, but good kids can also get any kind of chocolate and sweets, or even small toys. However, naughty kids get onions or twigs. Sometimes kids get both kinds of presents, just to remind them that they are sometimes naughty and should try to behave better.
Santa Claus visits schools
Though Santa visits the homes of children secretly during the night, the little ones might be lucky to meet him in school, kindergarten or at their parent’s workplace. On 5 December Santa Claus goes around the classrooms, kids sing to him and get small presents in exchange. Sometimes companies organize a similar event for the children of their employees.
Do you have some special traditions around Christmas time in your country? Are you interested in the Hungarian Christmas traditions? Click here to read our other article then!
Originally published at https://ourwanders.com on October 10, 2022.