Hundreds visit Saint Nicholas, Krumpus

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Hundreds of parents and small children visited Saint Nicholas and his sidekick Krumpus Saturday evening in the New Ulm Junior High School auditorium.

Sponsored by the New Ulm Business and Retail Association, the event began with Just For Kicks dancers from New Ulm.

Dancers ranged from three-year-olds to third graders.

Following the dance lines, Mike Stark read the story "A Gift From St. Nicholas." Children huddled on stage and Evy Olson paged through the book.

After the story, Saint Nicholas and Krumpus took the stage and greeted the children.

Children that behaved over the past year flocked to St. Nicholas and were given a bag of goodies.

Krumpus darkened his face with coal. He greeted children that did not behave as well, giving them pieces of coal and small tree branches.

According to legend, The Feast of Saint Nicholas is a children's festival usually celebrated on Dec. 6.

The saint was a bishop who lived in Asia Minor during the A.D.300's. He has been the patron saint of children since the Middle Ages.

The small branches signified whipping rods, given to naughty children to remind them that someone is watching their behavior.

The tree branches will be burned during a bonfire to be held at 5 p.m. next Saturday at South German Park.