Why does Santa Claus come to Hungary before the 25th December?
Weirdly enough in countries in Central Europe such as Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania etc. there's a holiday celebrating Saint Nicholas, a figure very similar to Santa Claus.
Hungarians call him Mikulás (since Nicholas is Miklós in Hungarian) or Télapó (literally winter father) and he comes to deliver gifts, mostly sweets, for children on 6th December. At least for good kids because the naughty ones get coals or "virgács" (a piece of wood) from the so-called "krampusz" which is an elf working with Mikulás. This holiday is only celebrated among children, adults don't gift each other on these days.
So if Santa Claus comes on the 6th, who comes on the 25th? Or in most Hungarian households, the 24th? Depending on religion, it can be the Baby Jesus or an angel that brings gifts according to Hungarian tradition.
Did you learn something new today too?
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