Nicholas has many earthly helpers.
Some of them now met in Benediktbeuern and chatted inside out.
Benediktbeuern - Santa Clauses can tell something - based on this knowledge, the Benediktbeuern Association for Customs and Culture has now invited to an evening with stories and experiences from local and very earthly representatives of St. Nicholas.
It turned out to be a very cheerful evening, in which – anticipatingly – “there was a lot of chatter” but due to certain “company secrets” no one was stepped on anyone's toes.
That's what Georg Rauchenberger, chairman of the customs association and who has been serving as Santa Claus for many years, called it.
"Santa Claus is the good guy, Krampus is the one who should teach the children respect"
The custom of visiting children on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, praising their good qualities, chiding those who are less good and encouraging them to improve, and finally presenting a gift has a long tradition.
The model is St. Nicholas of Myra, who, according to legend, gave presents to three poor girls and thus freed them from their misery.
Today's imitators are usually accompanied on their visits by a sinister fellow, the Krampus, as he is called locally.
"Santa Claus is the good guy, Krampus is the one who should teach the children respect," stated Georg Rauchenberger at the beginning of the meeting.
"But the appearance of Santa Claus and Krampus cannot make up for the upbringing that the parents may have missed for years." There have also been cases
where Krampuses became rude and hit them with their rods.
"Of course that's not possible."
Santa often has to solve the Diddi problem
Probably almost every one of the listeners in the Gasthof Herzogstand must have known in some way or from their own childhood the recited series of praise and shameful deeds written down by the parents of their offspring and the admonitions that followed: Be more obedient, don't be so cheeky, clean up better, with not quarreling with siblings so often, working better at school and much more.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Bad Tölz newsletter.
What the somewhat smaller girls and boys often find difficult in the past, just as it is today, is the final renunciation of the “Diddi” – St. Nicholas was and is often included to solve this problem.
Whereby, as was described, in a special case the "saint" praised the child for willingly giving up his pacifier and spontaneously got the answer: "I raised yes no on others."
"It feels like 37 stanzas from 'Christmas Bakery'" require clever tactics from St. Nicholas
The Benediktbeurer Santa Clauses have also experienced that the parents generally show different appreciation for the visit of St. Nicholas: While many in the intimate family circle are waiting for the knock on the door or window, it also happened that a girl was alone in the apartment because Peter Schmid explained that mom and dad were busy in the basement.
But not only anxious, happy, defiant or cheeky children and "perceived 37 stanzas of the 'Christmas Bakery'" demand skilful tactics from St. Nicholas - the role of the saint alone can become a stumbling block.
For example, when you have to climb stairs dressed in a long red coat, as Max Schönsteiner graphically described.
Or if the beard slips, the staff breaks off or the bishop's cap falls off.
Nicholas sometimes hears surprising confessions
Helmut Schönsteiner also contributed an episode from his own childhood: Completely surprised because St. Nicholas - the former Benediktbeurer pastor Alois Gassner - had found out that he and his brother had secretly smoked a cigarette, he confessed in bewilderment: "It was a Whole package." This confession, in turn, shook the seriousness of Nicholas, "he then said goodbye quickly," said Schönsteiner.
Without a head, the chocolate Santa can no longer scold
A girl made short work of the chocolate Santa Claus she had been given, according to a comment from the audience: she bit her head off and said: "He never scolds." Many other memories came to life during the von der Koanzn-Musi framed evening.
All the protagonists shared one experience in unison: the gifts provided, which Santa Claus then hands over to the children, are becoming more and more expensive.
"It really shouldn't be.
Santa Claus brings nuts, apples, oranges, gingerbread and the like.” (Rosi Bauer)
You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.