Saturday, Dec. 6, is the feast day of St. Nicholas of Myra. According to tradition, the good children who leave their shoes outside their door on St. Nicholas Eve will find prizes and treats inside the next morning.

St. Nicholas Day is a holiday typically celebrated in Germany and the Netherlands, but it is also a longtime tradition in New Ulm. Each year, the library hosts a special St. Nick story time.

Youth Service Librarian Kathryn Tatnall few of the younger family’s attending were familiar with the story of St. Nick. Most were more familiar with Santa Claus. Tatnall said even she was not familiar with the tradition before moving to New Ulm.

This year Tatnall read the book “Jingle Bells” by Maryann Kovalski. The kids were given sleigh bells to play along with the reading. This was followed by a reading of “The Story of Saint Nicholas” by Laura Wagner. The book told the story of Nicholas, the bishop of Turkey who was devoted to charitable works. Tatnall said this year, as a special gift, each family attending the holiday party were gifted a copy of Wagner’s book.

St. Nick met with six-year-old Ada Bundy during the New Ulm Public Library’s St. Nicholas Eve celebration. St. Nick asked if Ada was good this year and she assured him she had been good.

After story time, St. Nicholas and his companion Krampus met with the children. St. Nick asked all of the kids if they were well-behaved this year. The good kids were given a bag of cookies. Krampus remained closed by with a switch and coal if some naughty kids were in attendance, but St. Nick said overall the it was a good crop of kids this year.

A few older children did request switches and coal from Krampus.

Krampus said kids rarely requested a switch or lump of coal, but he was more than happy to hand them out.

Twelve-year-old Xavier Gieseke requested the switch and coal. He said he felt it was what he deserved this year, though St. Nick did give some cookies as well.

St. Nick said he and Krampus have made appearances in New Ulm on St. Nicholas Eve every year since 1983. He said about half of the local kids are familiar with the story of St. Nick. One of the reasons he and Krampus come to the library each year is to keep the tradition alive in New Ulm.

Cousins, Hazel Sower (left) and Mya Gulden (right) meet with St. Nick during the New Ulm Public Library’s St. Nicholas Eve celebration. Sower did most of the talking because she had met St. Nick before. St. Nick decided both girls were on the nice list this year.

St. Nicholas and Krampus arrive at the Children’s section of the New Ulm Public Library Friday as part of the annual St. Nicholas Eve celebration. St. Nick gave the good children treats while Krampus brought a bundle of switch for the less well behaved children.

Xavier Gieseke was one of the rare kids to request a switch and coal from Krampus this year, but St. Nick also gave him some cookies.