St. Mickulas
On December 6, we had a special visitor at Rainbow Hills, St. Mikulas! St. Mikulas is more commonly known as Saint Nicholas or Santa Clause. Everyone's name is somewhere on the yearly calendar to celebrate as a "name day." Nicholas' name is on December 6, therefore he is celebrated and remembered on this day. (Natalia was celebrated on Sunday) Santa Clause came to each house of children and talked to each child about how they were nice or naughty. He gave them each a treat bag filled with chocolate, peanuts, an orange and more chocolate.
The tradition is for the children to put their boots on the window sill the night before and hope that they will receive chocolate from Santa in their boots, if they have been naughty they will receive coal, a wooden spoon or a willow switch (virgács). Apparently, Santa thought I have been very good because I found a chocolate snowman in my boots before we went outside to play in the garden.
Another tradition is to visit the Christmas market. It is held at Vorosmarty Square and in front of the Basilica. It is a series of outdoor booths with many handcrafted items, ornaments, toys, baskets, sweets and interesting foods (sausages, langos, rooster testicle stew, hot ginger, hot tea, and mulled wine).
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