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German students celebrate Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield High School student Victor Stefanides posed with Krampus and St. Nikolaus during the Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day celebration that took place in German teacher Karen Hummer’s classroom Dec. 4.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield High School German teacher Karen Hummer was frightened as she looked at Krampus during the Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day celebration in her classroom Dec. 3. Luckily she had St. Nikolaus on her other side to offer protection.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield High School German students, from left, (front) Taylor Thomas, Morgan Leonard, Sydney Stewart; (back) Natalie Brown as Krampus, Kasey Hood, Kristin Hood and Zach Gierlach as St. Nikolaus, celebrated Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day in German teacher Karen Hummer’s classroom Dec. 4.
By ABBY SLANKER
In keeping with European tradition, Canfield High School students in German Teacher Karen Hummer’s German Three and Four classes had a Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day celebration Dec. 4.
According to Hummer, Krampus can be described as the anti-Santa used to encourage good behavior in children in European countries.
“Krampus is Santa’s enforcer. He scares kids into being good. If the kids are not good, he says he will take them away in his sack,” Hummer said.
For the celebration, students were encouraged to bake traditional German cookies and treats, such as cinnamon stars, linzer cookies and Krampus bread.
“The students researched traditional German cookie recipes so they could make them for the celebration. In class, we are expanding our food vocabulary, so this was a great opportunity for the students to find German recipes for cookies and tie that in with our Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day celebration,” Hummer said.
Hummer said the students also decorated the classroom for the celebration and one student dressed as Krampus and another as St. Nikolaus. Students were able to take photos with both Krampus and St. Nikolaus.
“The students did a great job making posters and decorating the classroom for today. Natalie Brown made the Krampus head and put together a great costume and Zach Gierlach dressed up as St. Nikolaus for us today,” Hummer said.
This year, Krampus Night was celebrated Dec. 5, the eve of St. Nikolas Day in Europe. St. Nikolaus Day was Dec. 6, with “der Nikolaus” bringing some small gifts, such as sweets and chocolate, to the children.
“I like to make learning fun and enjoyable at the same time and we did that today with our own Krampus and St. Nikolaus Day celebration. I think the students had a good time and learned a lot through this experience,” Hummer said.