Duo cultivates tradition

Holy cow: this duo trains Nikolos

Gerhard Melichar (center) benefits from the course expertise of "Ober-Nikolo" Raimund Grubmüller.(Bild: Dworak/Wiesmeyer, Grubmüller)

Every year again! At this year's St. Nicholas seminar in Teesdorf (Lower Austria), we learned that there is much more to St. Nicholas than a beard, hat and staff. The initiators talk about responsibility, customs and their appearances between laughing and crying children's eyes.

It is freezing cold, already dark, street lamps are burning, Christmas lights are shining - and eyes are sparkling. The children and their parents are eagerly awaiting the guest of honor. And then he finally comes around the corner! To the clattering of hooves, a man with a fake beard drives up in a carriage - and falls down drunk in front of everyone ...