Mikulás

December 6 th is the day when Hungary ’s Santa makes his rounds, traditionally, by a horse drawn sleigh. He is said to be accompanied by two helpers, a good angel who gives out presents to good children and a krampusz, a mean goblin who punishes bad children.

Santa is Szent Mikulás (Saint Nicholas) and 6th December is Mikulás Nap (St. Nicholas day).
He is very similar to the Western Santa except that instead of a Santa Clause costume he wears the red robes of a bishop, a red miter on his head and carries a staff in one hand.
On the evening of the 5 th December children polish their shoes and put them in the window. By the morning, if they have been good, Mikulás bácsi (uncle Nicholas) will fill their shoes with candy, tangerines, walnuts, apples, dates and chocolate Mikulás figures.
Unfortunately, nowadays, the chocolate figures look more like the Western Santa Clause than the traditional Hungarian figure but are just as delicious. Also, most children recieve small toys and books.
If the child has been bad, the boot will contain just a bundle of twigs, usually with a krampusz-figure attached, indicating a beating is in order. Since no child is all good or all bad, most get the bundle of twiggs and the presents.

This is Mikulás in our Christmas Wreath :-)