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St. Nicolas Eve
Contributed by
Elizabeth_Dandy
on
Wednesday, 8th December 2004 @ 02:55:02 PM in AEST
Topic:
FamilyPoems
|
Christmas Season in the Austrian Alps
Part 2 of 4
St. Nicolas Eve
On December the 5th, with excitement at its peak,
St. Nicolas of Myra, the bishop, called Saint Nick
Goes around with his peer to pay visits on this night
To the homes were children do not brawl and fight,-
Do not confuse this Saint with Santa Claus,
The bishop of Myra had no bulbeous nose.
Attired in the traditional St.Nicolas array
They roam the streets or a snowy alpine way,
The illustrous bishop - and his unholy peer,
The clef-footed Krampus with tail who inspires great fear,
This Evil One has a switch and rattles big chains,
And loves to peek through colored bull's-eye panes.
The curtains are drawn, but pious parents are certain
A saint can pass through window panes and curtain;
These two pace the streets, going from house to house;*
St. Nick brings goodies, the Krampus deals sharp blows,
Believers know this full well, whether rich or poor
And expect any time three taps on the front room door.
St. Nick asks the parents: ”Have the children been good?
Or did they brawl and fight in the school and booed
Mrs. Fingerle, or thumbed yet again their nose
At Freddy and Fanny, and put a frog in the sauce?"
At this the Krampus brandishes switch and stick,
But is stopped in his track by compassionate Saint Nick.
The children stammer and stutter confessing their sins:
“Matthew pilfered my cookies and jelly beans;
And Charlie bit into Gretchen’s cruller and apple;
And pulled - o dear! -on her beautiful tress in the chapel
From a pew behind he sneaked up and pulled on her tress
While Father Klunkelschupf said solemn mass.!”
And Hans, who had picked with Franz and John a fight
Must two times as penance the “Our Father” recite.
At this the Krampus wails and squeals like a pig,
But is exorcised on the spot by gracious St. Nick,
Who entreats the frightened children to take care,
And for the Christ Kind’s coming to prepare.
The Saint, - for kissing - now offers his bishop’s ring
Then opens the sack, chock-full of many a good thing;
He blesses the children and fastens his miter more tight-
To soon disappear in the dusky wintry night.
Oh loitering heedless Tourist, pray take care!
Show reverence due when meeting this wondrous pair!
In a busy street, or lonely snow- covered path;
Do not stir up the springs of Krampus’ wrath! -
Both walk long distances through snow and sleet,
And on their mission often get wet feet,-
The citizens, who hold them very dear,
Thrill, when at dusk the two at last appear.
Oh Tourist!-, rouse your heart, have faith,- believe!
When you meet this prodigious pair on Saint Nicolas’ Eve.
© Elizabeth Dandy
*Note! California's Governor
dressed once as "Krampus" too;
And went around from house to house
with Nicolas Marie-Lou
Copyright ©
Elizabeth_Dandy
... [
2004-12-08 14:55:02]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: St. Nicolas Eve
(User Rating: 1 )
by Stitch on
Saturday, 11th December 2004 @ 06:36:43 AM AEST
(User
Info | Send
a Message)
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Fascinating. Reminds me of my Catholic upbringing---only our ritual was not so grand.
Now I'm picturing Arnold dressed as an elf of some kind.
Stitch |
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