Saint Nicholas (European folklore)
Folklore figure based on a Greek bishop, patron of children.
Saint Nicholas comes from European folklore, but the real person behind the story was a Greek bishop named Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the early Christian era and is now the patron saint of children. His feast day, December 6 (or December 19 on the Julian calendar), is celebrated in many countries, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. On that day, children hope that Saint Nicholas will leave a gift under their pillow or inside a boot placed on the windowsill—but only if they have been good all year. Those who misbehaved might instead find a twig or a lump of coal.
In the Netherlands and Luxembourg, kids set out a shoe stuffed with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas’s horse. In parts of Austria, Czechia, southern Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine, he is accompanied by two helpers: a good angel who hands out presents to well-behaved children, and a devilish figure—sometimes a half-goat, half-demon monster called Krampus or Knecht Ruprecht—who frightens naughty children into behaving. These visitors go to homes with small children and either give them gifts directly or leave them in shoes left out overnight. Good children receive fruits, candies, and toys, while bad ones get only a wooden switch, coal, a carrot, or potatoes.
Traditional treats include sweets, chocolate, candy, nuts, and in Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, a special candy called szaloncukor. Today, chocolate figures of Saint Nicholas are very common. In Austria, Hungary, and Romania, children must polish their boots before the holiday, because Saint Nicholas refuses to fill boots that aren’t shiny enough. While presents are usually given by parents, in some countries adults also surprise each other by placing small gifts in one another’s boots or handing over a wrapped present. In Hungary, this custom is called *megajándékoz valakit valamivel*, meaning “to gift somebody with something.”
The *virgács* is a small broom-like switch made from twigs or willow branches, often painted gold, and sold on Hungarian streets before Saint Nicholas Day.
Quick Facts
- Folklore
- Christian, European
- Aka
- Nikolaus, Svatý Mikuláš, Mikulás, Samichlaus, Sveti Nikola, Saint Nicolas, Święty Mikołaj, Moș Nicolae, Sinterklaas, Svätý Mikuláš, Sveti Miklavž, Sviatyi Mykolai
- Country
- Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, Slovenia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, France
- Region
- Benelux, Central Europe, Pannonian Plain, Balkans, Eastern Europe, Southern Germany
- Habitat
- Anatolia, Spain
- Similar Entities
- Sinterklaas, Ded Moroz, Ayaz Ata, Christkind, Santa Claus, Father Christmas
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Saint Nicholas is believed to arrive on his day, December 6 (December 19 according to the Julian calendar), and leaves before Christmas. In the Netherlands and Luxembourg, children put out a shoe filled with hay and a carrot for his horse. In Austria, Czechia, southern Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine, he often comes with two assistants: a good angel who gives presents to good children and a devil or half-goat, half-demon monster (Krampus or Knecht Ruprecht) who scares bad children.
Reader's Guide
Saint Nicholas is a central figure in European folklore, celebrated across many countries on December 6. His tradition emphasizes moral behavior: good children receive sweets, fruits, and toys, while naughty children get a wooden switch, coal, or a carrot. In modern times, chocolate Saint Nicholas figures are common. In Austria, Hungary, and Romania, boots must be polished for him to fill them. Adults sometimes also give small surprises to other adults. The virgács, a switch made of twigs often painted gold, is sold on Hungarian streets before the day. This figure is distinct from Santa Claus but shares the gift-giving role, rooted in the historical bishop Nicholas of Myra.
Did You Know?
- Bad children may find a twig, coal, or a carrot left by a devil under their pillow.
- In Austria, Hungary, and Romania, boots must be polished because Saint Nicholas does not fill unshiny boots.
- The virgács is a switch made of twigs or branches, often painted gold, sold on Hungarian streets before Saint Nicholas Day.
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