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I've updated my sidebar, now that the midnight hour has passed. It includes two new images, which I would like to explain. One is of a bearded chap with a bishop's crook, the other of wrapped presents.

On 5 December, certain countries in continental Europe, such as the Flanders region of Belgium, Holland and western parts of Germany, celebrate the festival of St Nicholas.

St Nicholas was a bishop in western Turkey in the 6th century AD (I think), of the bishopric of Myra, the present-day Smyrna. After his death, the Ottomans took over Turkey and his bones were pilfered from his tomb, to be transferred to Spain. St Nicholas is the patron saint of children and of travellers.

In the regions I mentioned, St Nicholas arrives on the third Saturday of November by steamship from Spain. He is accompanied by a host of helpers, called Black Peters. You have to remember that Spain was overrun by North African 'Moors', who had a very dark complexion. St Nicholas comes bearing gifts for those children who have been good over the past year. For those that have been bad, he can order Black Peter to take them back to Spain in the sack that held the pressies. St Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, rides a white charger and takes to rooftops to drop presents down the chimnies. He will take back in return a carrot for the horse. In order to get the presents, the little ones are required to leave a shoe by the fireplace. The culmination is on December 5th, the eve of the nameday of St Nicholas, which occurs on the 6th.

Older children and adults draw lots to buy presents, and you are required to pen a rhyme, denouncing the recipient's misdeeds over the past year. The most excruciating poetry can result. The intrusion of Santa Claus over the last decade or so has led to a revolt, and some towns ban Santa Claus until December 6th. Funny thing is, Sinterklaas and Santa Claus are the same...