GiveWhy Hello Saint Nicholas?
As children, we used to queue in shopping centres to see Saint Nicholas, and those few seconds with him were magical. But more than once, our turn never came: so many children were dreaming of that moment that Saint Nicholas, overwhelmed, couldn't see them all before he had to leave.
And every child is different. Some, shyer, only need a few seconds; others want to tell him things and ask questions. Every Saint Nicholas does his best, but letting everyone through isn't always possible: five minutes per child for a queue of a hundred children would already mean more than eight hours of waiting.
It may sound a little silly now, as an adult, but even though I tried to hide it, I was really sad back then. As a child, you don't understand why Saint Nicholas had time for others, but not for you.
There will never be enough Saint Nicholases for all the children who dream of meeting him, and not every family can travel or wait, especially with a brother, a sister or a baby in their arms. I simply wanted to offer another way to meet him. Not to replace Saint Nicholas's visit, which isn't and never will be our aim, but as one more possibility: at home, at a time that suits you, and a little more personal. The parent tells him two or three things in advance, a proud moment from the year, the place where the surprise is waiting, and Saint Nicholas talks about them with the child.
It's a small project, made with a lot of care.