From Meg Kissinger:
After living in Milwaukee for seven years, Norma Herbers thought she knew her way around this town pretty well. She could tell you what a bubbler was and where to get a good haircut. It was Dec. 6 that threw her for a loop.
"My son Andrew came home from kindergarten in tears," she said, recalling the incident 10 years ago. "He was sobbing. All the other kids had a visit from St. Nick that morning. He kept crying, 'Mom, why didn't he stop at our house?'"
Like the fish fry and frozen custard, the celebration of St. Nick's Day, though not exclusively a Milwaukee tradition, is especially strong here. Herbers had never heard of it. Tradition calls for children to hang their stockings or put out their shoes in the hopes that St. Nicholas will visit in the night, leaving a trinket or two for good children. Naughty kids will find a lump of coal or a switch instead.
The same thing happened to us many years ago after moving to the Milwaukee area from northern Illinois, a distance of just 90 miles. We told the kids that St. Nick must have hidden them, and then went out and bought them a couple of presents. Who knew?
If you're not lucky enough to live in the Milwaukee area, why not send a St. Nick's e-card to those you love?
Happen to us too when we moved to WI when our son was five. Although we moved to CO 13 years ago we continue to celebrate St Nick's Day as do all the second graders in my class. Happy St. Nick's Day One and all!
Posted by: Barb | 12/05/2005 at 07:59 AM