A child has convinced his expat parents who struggle to make sense of the traditions of Luxembourg and the Greater Region that on December 6, five distinct mythical figures visit and each must bring a different gift.
“But aren’t Kleeschen, Saint-Nicolas, Sankt Nikolaus, Sinterklaas, and Santa Claus all basically the same guy?” the boy’s father said on the evening of December 5 after the eight-year-old, who now attends Luxembourgish public school, presented his case.
“No,” the youngling responded. “Each has a different name and a slightly different costume.”
“They may be friends or even related,” he continued. “And they may in fact be quintuplets born of the same mother, but they each have a unique role which is to bring me a gift.”
“I don’t mean sweets or cheap trinkets more suitable for a stocking,” he added. “I mean a proper gift such as a new video game controller, a skateboard, a cat, a Real Madrid football jersey, and a new pair of Jordans.”
When his mother also expressed doubt, citing a Wikipedia article which claims that the five figures are basically one and the same, the child doubled down.
“Do you want me to integrate or not?” he said. “My knowledge comes straight from my teacher, a twelfth-generation inhabitant of these lands.”
“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to learn several new languages at the same time and straddle different cultures?”
“Five gifts, tomorrow morning, near my slippers,” he added. “I’ve already provided you with a list. Let’s consider the topic closed.”
