Nikolaus without Nikolaus: Kolping family has to cancel the visiting service again

Santa Claus visits families every year on December 5th and 6th.

This year this is again not possible due to the corona.

Boris Teuber from the Geretsried Kolping family speaks about this in an interview.

Geretsried

- The Kolping families Geretsried, Wolfratshausen and Waldram look into big children's eyes every year on December 5th and 6th.

The volunteers in the service of St. Nicholas are out and about in the two cities and visit families in order to preserve the Christian custom.

After the lockdown last year, there should be a Santa Claus visiting service again this year, but the corona pandemic intervened again.

Editor Susanne Weiß spoke about this with Boris Teuber (55), chairman of the Geretsried Kolping family.

Mr. Teuber, even Nikolaus is not immune from the earthly pandemic?

Boris Teuber:

Unfortunately not.

It is a pity.

We should start filing this week, but the number of cases is so high and our people aren't the youngest anymore.

How many Santa Clauses does the Geretsried Kolping family employ?

Boris Teuber:

We are actually out and about for two days every year with three or four Santa Clauses, each with a companion and a driver.

Before the corona pandemic, we visited 60 to 80 households every year.

Quite a lot.

Boris Teuber:

Yes.

The rush used to be even bigger.

We sometimes had to turn away families.

But now there are more and more who do not want to have anything to do with Christian custom.

This is probably because interest in the Church is waning in general.

How long has the Kolping family been on the Nikolaus Visiting Service?

Boris Teuber:

I've been with the Kolping Family since 1985, when he already existed.

And are you Nicholas yourself?

Boris Teuber:

Over and over again for over 20 years.

Sometimes I am there as a helper.

We always change things a little.

Is it nice to visit the families?

Boris Teuber:

It's always interesting because you get to know the children differently.

Some prepare our visit very nicely and are very happy about it, especially families who do not have that much money.

How is your experience: Does the Golden Book of St. Nicholas say more good or more bad deeds by the children?

Boris Teuber:

Some parents write to us that the child should eat more vegetables, tidy up their room, learn more for school and do a lot more.

But St. Nicholas cannot help with the upbringing.

We always try to balance things out, so sometimes we have something nice to say.

Nikolaus von Myra was there for the needy and did not point out anything bad.

But it is best for us when we just talk to the children and they can develop freely.

What do the children tell then?

Boris Teuber:

Many have prepared a St. Nicholas poem or songs.

Some children ask if we are there with the sledge or if we have reindeer with us.

But some children are also very knowledgeable and know that Nicholas is a saint and patron saint of seafarers, children and many others.

That's pretty nice.

As Santa Claus you have certainly already seen a lot.

What do you remember?

Boris Teuber:

There is a lot.

Once we were in a family where the parents probably just got divorced.

The boy complained to Santa Claus that his papa was no longer there.

Another time St. Nicholas had to tell children that they shouldn't bathe their budgie again.

They must have done that, and he didn't survive.

And it has also happened that the Golden Book said that the child always intervened.

When we wanted to talk to the child, grandma, grandpa or someone else from the family was sitting on the sofa and kept interrupting it.

One thinks that Santa would have better come to the adults.

How does St. Nicholas spend St. Nicholas Day this year when he can't go to the children?

Boris Teuber:

Maybe he'll show up in church.

We have to decide that at short notice.

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