Santa Claus free zone

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Logo of the "Santa Claus Free Zone" since 2018

Santa Claus-free zone (WmfZ) is the Santa Claus campaign of the Bonifatiuswerk of German Catholics, with which the custom of the pre-Christmas giving, which is associated with the fictional character " Santa Claus ", originates in the veneration of Bishop Nikolaus von Myra as a friend of the children and helpers of People in need should be drawn back.

The St. Nicholas campaign of the Bonifatiuswerk has existed since 2002 and calls for people to "do good, as St. Nicholas already did". The Bishop of Myra is considered the patron saint of children and “pioneer of children's rights” and is portrayed as a role model for Christian-inspired charitable work, as described by numerous legends . With the slogan "Really good." the campaign wants to set an example for the “real” Santa Claus, who should not be confused with Santa Claus. Since about the middle of the 19th century, the figure of the holy bishop Nicholas was secularized as a gift to the "Santa Claus" and lost her regalia ( alb , stole and choir robe or chasuble ), the bishop's staff and the miter . In place of the liturgical robe , Santa Claus had a coat and pointed cap , reminiscent of the Phrygian cap from Asia Minor .

Logo and materials

Logo of the "Santa Claus free zone" until 2018

Until 2018, the logo was a Santa Claus in the prohibition sign. The new logo then introduced by the Bonifatiuswerk shows Nicholas and a calendar sheet with the date of St. Nicholas ' Day on December 6, the liturgical day of remembrance of the saint, and is understood as a positive invitation to celebrate St. Nicholas' Day. The tongue-in-cheek but perceived as a strong demarcation symbolism against Santa Claus with the aspects of increased sales, consumption and purchasability, which was decisive in the first years of the campaign, is abandoned.

For the implementation of the campaign, the Bonifatiuswerk provides child-friendly and didactic-methodical materials and publications to develop the topic for different target groups, especially for daycare centers, schools and communities. Right from the start, the proceeds from the campaign benefit various child-related initiatives and institutions, such as children's hospice services in Berlin and Halle / Saale in 2016 .

The nationwide opening of the “Santa Claus Free Zone” campaign has been held in a different city every year since 2011. So far, children from schools, celebrities from church and society and Maite Kelly as godmother of the "Santa Claus-free zone" have been involved. The thematic focus changes from year to year. In 2014, chocolate Santa Clauses were poured with Nikolaus, Maite Kelly, Ralph Caspers and Peter Millowitsch and 250 primary school children in the Cologne Chocolate Museum. In 2015 around 300 primary school children in Hamburg, together with Maite Kelly and the Archbishop of Hamburg Stefan Heße, set a sign of solidarity under the slogan "There is room for everyone in the house of Nicholas." They rebuilt the house of Nicholas, which reminded of all those people who had to leave their homeland. With a flying visit of Saint Nicholas to the Bavarian State Representation in Berlin and in front of the Brandenburg Gate, a sign against child poverty in Germany was set in 2017. 120 Berlin schoolchildren presented banners to representatives from church, politics and society and urged them to take decisive action against child poverty. In 2019 the campaign was opened in the prison in Cologne to - like Saint Nicholas - go to the margins of society.

As part of the campaign, the sale of chocolate Santa Clauses with miter, bishop's staff and bishop's ring next to and instead of chocolate Santa Clauses is promoted. This is increasingly being taken up by smaller chocolate manufacturers and consumers.

Campaign "Tat.Ort.Nikolaus: Doing good - everyone can."

Since 2019 there has been a new campaign element: "Tat.Ort.Nikolaus: Anyone can do good." With the campaign, the Bonifatiuswerk wants to specifically identify places where good things happen. The aim is for individuals, groups, school classes, institutions or communities to become active themselves: following the example of St. Follow Nicholas and do good deeds or create places of good deeds around St. The campaign is supported by the television journalists Gundula Gause , Yvonne Willicks and Anna Planken , the musicians Maite Kelly, Janus Fröhlich, Judy Bailey and Michael Herberger and the “twittering monk” Maurus Runge, Benedictine and social media activist.

Nicholas courses

Since 2015, the Bonifatiuswerk has been offering a “Nikolaus Certificate Course” in cooperation with various diocesan Bonifatiuswerke ( Augsburg , Freiburg , Paderborn ) and the “Church in Europapark”. The actors of Santa Claus receive information about Santa Claus, legends and customs, practical tips for their appearance as Santa Claus and tips on suitable materials.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. evangelisch.de: "Santa Claus Free Zone" opened , November 29, 2016 , accessed on January 29, 2020.
  2. domradio.de: With a wink. "Santa Claus-free zone" advertises St. Nicholas , November 25, 2016 , accessed on January 29, 2020.
  3. Manfred Becker-Huberti : Santa Claus lives. How he became what he is. Herder publishing house. Freiburg-Basel-Vienna 2004, ISBN 3-451-07035-9 , pp. 65-72.
  4. welt.de: Why German Catholics are fighting Santa Claus , December 22, 2016 , accessed on January 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ kathisch.de : Why the chocolate Santa Claus is on the rise. Bishop Chocolate Sales Soar , December 5, 2018 , accessed January 29, 2020.
  6. domradio.de: With a wink. "Santa Claus-free zone" advertises St. Nicholas , November 25, 2016 , accessed on January 29, 2020.
  7. ↑ kathisch.de : Why the chocolate Santa Claus is on the rise. Bishop Chocolate Sales Soar , December 5, 2018 , accessed January 29, 2020.