One of my favorite radio programs was discussing the Crumpas today.

Apparently the Saints doppelgänger !

Anyway I learned a lot of new trivia:

St Nicholas was a children's saint. Children would put out a shoe on the eve (12/05) of the Feast of St Nicholas (12/06) and if they were good children, in the morning there would be simple gifts in the shoe. There was usually fruit and snacks included along with the toys. A feast would follow. I'm not sure if this is how everyone celebrated it, but was how my Great Grandmother, born in what is now the Czech Republic, taught our family.

We attended the Feast of St. Nicholas on Saturday--waht an experience...... Wow.

I had no idea what to really expect--my husband wore a funny looking jacket I had always wondered why he had in the closet---It was traditional Austrian garb.---
The children made little projects and presented a play (thank God some of this event was actually done in english) and everyone sang songs for what semmed like forever---as soon as darkenss feel everyone started to sing loudly--and louder--and louder when all of a sudden St Nickolas enterd from the back of the room!

He was dressed in all white and had a long white beard....but, behind him was the 'Krumpus" (spelling?) Something that looked a lot like the devil--he had chains and bells and carried a branch of twiggs....

Then St Nicholas called each child forward--parents had provided a list of wrongs and rights to St Nicholsa as he is not magic and cannot see you be 'naughty or nice' and he started with the naughty things.....for english children he spoke english--for german speaking children my mother-in-law translated. When St Nicholas read the naughty things the Krumpa shook his chians and bells and swatted the branch--really scary and he would start to come toward the child---but, before he got there St Nicholas would start to read the NICE....and Krumpas slowly retreated to a corner.......

When the children were done with St Nicholsa (who spent about 10-mins with each child mostly talking about the nice---he would give them a gift bag willed with candy, nuts, fruit, and a small girft. And then each child approached the Krumpas and gave him something from their bag--as a gft of appeasment!

The whole thing was a trip!!!

http://forums.adoption.com/russia-ad...-nicholas.html

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

The real one lives in Lapland :]

You now have a limited amount of time left before you...expire...

Any more stories from around the world, legends and traditions about Christmas it would be interesting.

I could probably find a link to an old song by Rolf Harris called Six White Boomers, in which the Antiopodean Santa's sled is pulled by kangaroos. But (a) it's an old song, and (b) it's by Rolf Harris.

Enough said if it Rolf Harris

Hay I found this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlSsffF2xhA I got a bit worried wnen I heard him singTwo Little Boys, to much time in the outback perhaps

That phaaaquing song was a massive hit during my childhood years.
I'll eat stale yak vomit before I click on that link!