Guten Tag, ich bin der Nikolaus, Guten Tag, guten Tag.
Mit dem Sack geh' ich von Haus zu Haus
Guten Tag, guten Tag.
Es gibt viel zu tun, es gibt viel zu tun,
ich hab' keine Zeit mich auszuruhn.
Guten Tag, ich bin der Nikolaus.
Guten Tag, guten Tag.
( Good Day! I am St. Nickolaus
I go from house to house with my sack ( of presents!!)
There is a lot to do
I don't have any time to relax
Good Day! I'm St. Nick.)
Wie der Wind zieh ich durch ganze Land,
Wie der Wind, wie der Wind.
Und am liebsten bleib ich unerkannt.
Wie der Wind, wie der Wind.
( Like the wind, I blow through the entire country!
and I prefer to remain unnoticed)
Stellt die Stiefel raus, stellt die Stiefel raus
und dann freut euch auf den Nikolaus.
Guten Tag, ich bin der Nikolaus.
Guten Tag, guten Tag.
(put your boots out
and then look forward to St. Nikolaus)
Heute Nacht, wenn alle schlafen gehen,
heute Nacht, heute Nacht,
koennt ihr mich in euren Traeumen sehn'
heute Nacht, heute Nacht,
(Tonight when everybody goes to sleep
you can see me in your dreams)
Bis der Morgen graut, bus der Morgen graut,
und ihr froehlich in die Stiefel schaut.
Guten Tag, ich bin der Nikolaus.
Guten Tag, guten Tag.
( Until the dawn
and you happily look in your boots!
Good day, I am St. Nikolaus!)
Okay, Okay....so my translation makes me think of a menu at a Chinese restaurant...but you get the idea.
***
Today is December 6th! St. Nikolaus Day! This holiday is celebrated in various ways - but here the children put their boots ( shoes) in front of the door before they go to bed (1). In the morning, one awakes to find traditional gifts such as chocolate, oranges, and nuts (2)! Songs such as the one above are sung (3). All the children have to go to their Kindergarten early for more festivities, including a real visit from St. Nick!
Footnotes:
1. Except William, who decided to throw a fit and go to bed, delcaring that he was afraid of St. Nikolaus because he is "big".
2. Except at our house, we got chocolates, a Spongebob Squarepants surprise egg, a "learn-to-sew " kit ( NOT for me!) and a castle ( because St. Nick did not feel like clogging his sleigh up and dragging the thing all the way to Mallorca for Christmas).
3. With a bad American accent, loudly, at 8:40 am to the accompaniment of a children's guitar which has never been tuned, and a 3 year old screaming - "it's not working! Why is the guitar not working?" while our neighbor hastily throws clothes on her crying son who also has to be at the Kindergarten in 5 minutes, but is afraid to go there with us (?!).
