2. Background information on St
Nicholas celebrations.
The
custom of giving children presents on the 6th of December is believed to have
originated in the 13th century. Children who had carried out
duties in the church were given presents such as money, apples, nuts and honeyed
confectionary as rewards for their diligence and good behaviour by the bishops
of the church. St Nicholas (Sankt Nikolaus) became the bishop who gave out
these presents. 
This
custom of rewarding the children is still a practice in many areas, where Saint
Nicholas ( a person in a bishop robe, bishop’s mitre and staff) appears and
asked the children if they have been well behaved, hardworking and obedient
throughout the year. 
However,
the St Nicholas does not come alone, he is often accompanied by sinister looking
figure. In Bavaria and Austria this figure is known as “Krampus”.
He is usually dressed in black with a devil’s face and rattles his chains.
In Northern Germany he is known as Knecht Ruprecht. 
In
various other parts of Germany he has names such as Pelzebock, Pelznickel, Pelzmärtl,
Posterklas, Habersack, Hans Trapp, Hans Muff, Bartel, Klaufbauf, Schwarzer
Peter, Bulle. This figure is often dressed in crude clothing such as
old clothes, sacking or furs. 
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