Chocolate and St Nicholas

Saint Nicholas - a real historical figure

Saint Nicholas is still known today for his charity. He is especially known for bringing gifts to young people at the beginning of December. Another name for him is Saint Nicholas, and we use this name mainly when we talk about him as a historical figure. Saint Nicholas is a real historical figure who was born and lived in Asia Minor in the 4th century AD. He devoted himself completely to Christianity and eventually became a bishop, as his episcopal vestments testify to this day.

Saint Nicholas has always been considered the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. This is probably because Nicholas''s family was involved in seafaring and fishing, and was thus connected to the sea and navigable waters. The cathedral in Ljubljana is also dedicated to this saint, as the Ljubljanica was for a long time a navigable river used for transporting goods and livestock. Many of his churches can be found along other navigable rivers.

Saint Nicholas is considered a generous saint, giving away all his wealth to the poor and needy. Although he came from a wealthy family, he was not interested in money or material wealth. He saw his goal as noble concern and helping others. He devoted his whole life to this, and we remember this today when Saint Nicholas presents gifts to all hard-working children on the night of 5/6 December. It is also typical that St Nicholas does not walk around alone, but is accompanied on his journey by angels and parklings. Traditionally, the parklings bring a shiba to the slightly more mischievous and less obedient children each year. What about you, have you ever received a shiba?

St. Nicholas presents

Although St Nicholas is now well and truly superseded by Santa Claus, many families still celebrate this holiday. On the evening of 5 December, St Nicholas appears in the house, accompanied by angels and devils. They scare children who have been naughty during the year and who do not deserve presents. The angels help St Nicholas to distribute the presents and make sure that all the children get presents at the end of the day. The children are addressed by St Nicholas, asked if they have been good during the year, and then the gifts are distributed.

This giving saint is known for the fact that his presents are more modest than those Santa Claus brings. Well, at least in the past it was. Nowadays, some people are already lavishly gifted by St Nicholas. His "traditional" gifts usually include chocolate, fresh or dried fruit and small trinkets such as crayons and a book or colouring book.

Chocolate products in the shape of St Nicholas and parklands are very popular at this time. These delicious and neatly wrapped chocolate characters represent this kind and good-natured saint and his companions. Often hollow, they can also be found on the shelves filled with delicious milk chocolate that no one can resist. Of course, when it comes to eating these delicious chocolate figurines, a little moderation is also necessary, as otherwise we can start to put on extra pounds. But who can resist all the chocolate confectionery and treats that are waiting for us in December? Probably very few. That''s why it''s a good time to enjoy the gifts that St Nicholas brings us, to make friends now and then and to bite the tail off a chocolate bunny, the wings off an angel and the feet off St Nicholas. No one will hold it against us, because everyone knows that chocolate is the best confectionery in the world.