Samichlaus Tag

It's December 6th, and in my neck of the woods this is a very special day for two reasons. One, it is Grandpa Boyd's birthday, and since we all love Grandpa Boyd very much and he is a very special man for a great many reasons, this is definitely a day worth celebrating. Secondly, it is Samichlaus Tag, also known as the feast day of St. Nicholas, which is a holiday vastly celebrated in the part of Switzerland where my parents are from.

Every year growing up I have looked forward to this day.  Digging out our special Christmas bags, hanging them on the front door nob, anxiously waiting all day for that moment after dinner when we got to check to see if Samichlaus had made it to our house to fill our bags with sweet mandarin oranges, sugar dipped ginger cookies, whole peanuts and Swiss chocolates.

It's an old European tradition, one most of my friends growing up never even heard of, a sweet tale of an old Saint who came to children's homes on the evening of December 6th and filled waiting shoes or bags with special winter treats. My parents continued the tradition on all through our childhood, much of our adulthood, and now for their grandchildren. It is a special day, made even more special by the look on my nephew's face as he pulls open the creaky old front door of my parents' place to check the bags, and the gleam in Jake's eyes as he pours out a bag full of nuts, fruit and chocolate meant just for him.

I hope one day it will be my grandchildren opening my door checking to see if Samichlaus has made it to see them.

My sister made these.  I love them.

Happy Samichlaus day to you all!