Printable story to keep children believing in Santa. (3)

Thanks for that. Interesting story - and true. How the legends get mis-construed hey?

Here in Switzerland the 6th December is still celebrated with the old guy dressed in red giving out "gifts" - but the gifts consist of fruit and nuts. He stands in the village on that day and welcomes all the little kids.

His side-kick "Schmützli" dressed in drab brown holds the donkey`s reigns and assists "Sammichlaus" in giving out the bags of nuts and fruits (usually clementines, apples, and nuts). Schmützli doesn`t speak, and the kids are a bit afraid of him.

On the next weekend he appears at the forest hut, where the parents all gather to celebrate his arrival (the local council pays for the fruits and nuts on tables, and parents drink wine/beers ... there`s big fires going to keep warm, while Schmützli takes the kids on donkey rides thru the forest, sausages on bbq, and a lovely day in the snow is had by all.

Here in Switzerland "Santa" Sammichlaus does dress in a sort-of Bishops outfit, not the floppy red hat with pom-pom - he is really quite elegantly attired!

"Santa Claus" plays no real part in the actual Christmas scene, being just a reminder of all the good/bad things one has done during the year