Also this year, St. Nicholas comes to Holzkirchen - but a lot is different.
Gerhard Lippert, Nikolaus for 20 years, gives insights into the course of this year's visits in an interview.
Holzkirchen -
Nicholas has already seen a lot - but the 2020 corona year still holds some surprises and imponderables in store for a veteran saint.
We asked Gerhard Lippert from the Holzkirchner Nikoläusen.
The 36-year-old from Kleinhartpenning has been a colleague of Nikolaus for 20 years.
And again this year on tour in the market town and the districts.
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Gerhard Lippert, Nikolaus colleague in Holzkirchen for 20 years
© Thomas Plettenberg
Santa Claus comes to the children year after year, there is usually no question about that. Did Nicholas even have to ask the health department this year whether he can come?
Lippert:
Yes, that's exactly how it was.
Due to the whole corona problem, Santa Claus had to ask: Who is allowed to go where?
Who can come together and how?
And what do you have to consider?
The health department could tell what the state is.
But none of this is so 100 percent certain this year.
Something can always change spontaneously, depending on the corona situation.
How do Nicholas and his colleagues prepare for the visits?
Lippert:
You go to your family doctor during the week and do a corona test there at your own expense.
Santa only comes to the children if the test is negative.
This also applies to the Kramperl.
He's basically there, but he's not allowed to go to the families, he has to stay outside.
Because Santa Claus and the children and their parents are already two households that are allowed to live together at most - other families are not allowed to join this year either.
We also suggest that the visit take place outdoors, if possible.
With an apartment on the third floor in Otto-Mair-Ring it will of course be difficult, but with a single-family house in Hartpenning it is easy.
You can make it beautiful in the garden, something we have sometimes had in the past when visiting, with a fire bowl and torches.
The Kramperl then stays on the garden fence.
That may be better for some children if the Kramperl doesn't come in with them. Not all of them are good ...
Lippert:
No, that's not better.
The Kramperl actually has to be there, because otherwise you can't show that the good has the bad under control - so St. Nicholas the Kramperl.
Kramperl does everything wrong: he doesn't brush his teeth, he doesn't put on slippers.
You need it so that the children can see what will come of it.
Does Santa have to do without something completely?
Lippert:
He's not allowed to shake hands with the children.
And unfortunately he is not allowed to give any presents.
The parents can pick up a sack from us this year.
They then provide it filled with the presents.
Nicholas then takes the sack in when he visits and leaves it so that the parents can unpack it with the children.
The probability of smear infections is rather low, and Santa Claus always wears his gloves anyway.
But we just have to stick to it.
Does Santa Claus put on a mask?
Lippert:
Santa Claus has a beard that keeps you away more than most masks that conform to the rules.
It is up to him whether he wears one underneath.
The beard is on a skin anyway, through which you have to speak louder than through any mask, almost scream.
And then the fur sits on it too.
So a lot is different. But hopefully, for the children, Santa will bring a bit of normality and Christmas anticipation, right?
Lippert:
We'll see how that develops in practice.
It will be different, but we will definitely do our best.
We do it for the children.
The interview was conducted by Katrin Hager.
Registrations
for the visits between 4.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th, in Holzkirchen and on Sunday, December 6th, in the districts, can still be registered by the Holzkirchen Santa Clauses until Friday noon, December 4th, by calling 0 80 24/72 87 or 47 43 21 and telephone 01 60/1 86 22 19.
Visiting St. Nicholas is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
You can also read about visits to St. Nicholas in Miesbach.
