Belsnickle is a French/German tradition that celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. Essentially, Belsnickle is a crazy little helper elf who pulls wacky pranks...so, kids put their shoes out the night of December 5, and Belsnickle fills them with candy.
What a surprise in the morning!
Ever since I was little my family celebrated this, and last year I used it for a floor program. Very successful! Shoes were lined outside of doors all down the hallway! :) (Donna, I think I made you put your shoes out, no?)
Anyway, can I give myself a topic for tomorrow???
Posted by Julie Young at November 4, 2003 11:45 PMYes, Julie, you made me put my shoes out. I had forgotten about that... but I remember having to explain it to people on my floor, who were wondering whether to call up the loony bin. They were jealous when I had candy though :-)
Posted by: Donna R. Hibbs at November 5, 2003 08:28 AMIn my French classes, we always put our shoes in the hall for December 6th. "St. Nicolas" (aka, the German teacher next door) would put a few pieces of candy in our shoes. The French teacher did the same for the German class.
Last year, as my senior project, I taught French to 6th and 7th graders to prove that a second language enhances the abilities in the primary language. I had my students during St. Nicolas, and they thought I was crazy for asking them to put their shoes in the hallway. One kid asked me if mean highschoolers were going to steal them. Of course, I said no :) and he was plesantly surprised to find a little stash of treats in his not-stolen shoes ;)
What fun!
Posted by: Karissa at November 5, 2003 10:26 AM