LL-L "Traditions" 2009.11.01 (03) [DE-EN-NDS]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 01 November 2009 - Volume 03
lowlands at lowlands-l.net - http://lowlands-l.net/
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From: Hannelore Hinz  <HanneHinz at t-online.de>
Subject: Nikolaus 6. Dez.

Gedanken über 6. Dezember (Nikolaus)

Hallo liebe Freunde!

Nikolaus: männlicher Vorname, Niklas, verkürzt: Klas, Pl. Kloes'.

1. Die kath. Kirche feierte den Tag des Heiligen am 6. Dezember;
Datumsangaben: 'vor sunte nycolaus dage' (1418); 'um Nicolai' (1583); sein
Kult war z.Zt. der Hanse im Ostseegebiet lebendig (Nikolauskult); nach
Nikolaus benannte Kirchen und Kapellen im damaligen meckl. Gebiet; er wurde
als Schutzpatron der Schiffer verehrt: 'se (die Katholiken) geven desse
affgodische meinung vor, dat S. Nicolaus thor Sehewardt im Stor(m)winde mote
dat beste don'; 'men ropt, schryet und bedet ock in den Kercken S. Nicolaum
glyck mit in der Letanien  . . . an'.
2. In den Jahrhunderten nach der Reformation ist mit dem Nikolauskult auch
sein Festtag verschwunden, wohl wurde der Brauch*, die Kinder zu beschenken,
weiter geübt; man lehrte sie 'daß . . . ein heil. Nicolaus, der seit dem 6.
Dezember herum gegangen wäre und sich nach der Kinder Verhalten erkundiget,
die ausgesetzten Schüßeln gefüllet hätte
Gem. Aufs. 1769, S. 205; aber 'eine Feier des Nikolaustages selbst . . . ,
wie sie in anderen deutschen Ländern üblich ist, kennen wir in Mecklenburg
nicht'.

*Die Kinder freuen sich über eine Gabe vom Nikolaus, die er während der
Nacht heimlich in einen für ihn hingestellten Kinderschuh legt.

 Pflegt man diesen Brauch auch in anderen Ländern?

Anmerkung: Doch lebt die Gestalt (Nikolaus) in eigentümlicher Weise fort;
sie wurde zum *Rug'klas *oder *Kling'klas *der Weihnachtszeit, einer der
vermummten Umzugsgestalten.

Lit. (gekürzt): Wossidlo/Teuchert

Kamt gaut rin in denn' melanklüterigen Näwelmaand.

Hanne

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Traditions

Dear Hanne,

I hope you don't mind that I am responding in English in order to get
everyone else on board. Also, Hanne, I know that your English, especially
your passive English, has been improving fast, in part thanks to your
participation in LL-L and in part thanks to your efforts to overcome the
disadvantage you had in East Germany before the fall of the Wall.

Here at Lowlands-L, the topic of St. Nicholas comes up in November and
December of every year. Folks, I wish one of you would write an introductory
piece that we could post in our Traditions presentation (
http://lowlands-l.net/traditions/).

The tradition goes back to Saint Nicholas (Greek:  Άγιος Νικόλαος (Ágios
Nikólaos)) – actually Nicholas of Myra (210–346) – a Byzantine bishop who
lived in what is now a part of Turkey. His reputation for charitable
"wonder" works was such that his fame spread far beyond Eastern Orthodoxy.
Also, it survived the Reformation in what are now the northern parts of the
Netherlands and Germany, probably as a part of a cultural continuum. In
fact, to most people in the Netherlands the day devoted to him is more
important than Christmas, and in Northern Germany this day is also still
celebrated apart from Christmas. (In the Netherlands it is on December 5 and
in Northern Germany on December 6, the difference being due to the fact that
in older Christianity, as in Judaism, a day begins with nightfall. Saint
Nicholas's birthday is December 6.)

I believe that in what is now (predominantly Lutheran) Northern Germany
Saint Nicholas Day used to be as important as in the Netherlands and that
later German domination coming from the south introduced Christmas as more
important. North German children ended up with gifts on both days, which is
not a bad deal. But there's been a lot of confusion. There is Saint Nicholas
Day (Low Saxon *Niklaas(dag)*, *Sünnerklaas(dag)*) and then, on Christmas,
there is *Ruugklaas (a.k.a. Klingklaas*), as you mentioned.
*Ruugklaas*("Rough Nick") is the rough and tumble companion and helper
of the
German-derived *Wiehnachtsmann* (< *Weihnachtsmann*, Father Christmas),
usually does his dirty work, such as punishing naughty children. The *
Wiehnachtsmann* is clearly an adaptation of the (southern) German *
Weihnachtsmann*. So, in Northern Germany there is a mixture of at least two
traditions (Lowlands and German), while in the Netherlands the older
tradition still predominates.

The confusion spread to North America, beginning with the Dutch tradition
Dutch colonial days (before the British takeover) and continuing with strong
influences of large-scale German immigration. As a result, Dutch-based Saint
Nicholas (*Sinterklaas*) has become the American Santa Claus who is the same
as Father Christmas in other English-speaking countries (and the *
Weihnachtsmann* in the German tradition). He enters the house through the
chimney (even where there is none) and stuffs good children's stocking
(these days special ones, not of the wearing kind). In contrast, St.
Nicholas in Northern Germany enters the house by whatever means available
(without triggering security alarms and getting arrested by the police) and
stuffs good children's *shoes* (that traditionally must be well polished and
are put on window sills while saying a little prayer-like poem).

A quick look at our neighbors in (predominantly Lutheran) Scandinavia,
Finland, Estonia and Latvia reveals Saint Lucy's Day (December 13) in place
of Saint Nicholas Day.  Saint Lucy (283–304, thus roughly a contemporary of
Saint Nicholas) was a Christian martyr and is associated with the bringing
of light, warmth and kindness (*lucia* 'light one' (f) < Latin
*lux*'light), clearly connected with pre-Christian celebrations of
winter equinox
and thus the return of light.

This becomes a big topic once you start comparing.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

•

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