The Hungarian Santa, called Mikul�s, (Me-ku-lash) visits children on December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day, which is the name day of "Mikl�s." Chidren put boots in the windows, like stockings hang by the fireplace on Christmas Eve all over the USA. If the child has been good, Mikul�s leaves the boot filled with goodies - traditionally with candies, tangerines, walnuts, apples, dates and chocolate Mikul�s figurines. Also, most children get small toys and books. If the child has been bad, the boot will contain just a switch usually with a devil-figure attached, indicating a beating is in order. Since no child is all good or all bad, most get the switch and the treat.
Usually Mikul�s-day is celebrated in schools and in work-places for the workers' children. Children sing Mikul�s-songs and when he comes in bravest children go to him, sit to his lap and tell a poem or sing a song. Then Mikul�s calls them one by one, praising them for the good things they did and mentions bad things as well. These personal messages - of course - based on previous parents' notes. Usually Mikul�s plays with them for a while or they watch a movie together.
There is no Mrs. Santa in Hungary, but Mikul�s often comes with one or two small evil boys, called "krampusz (kromm-puhs)."
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