St Nick hasn't been nixed
2006-12-05 11:49
Vienna - Santa Claus can still come to
town, Vienna officials said on Thursday to calm an outcry over
mistaken reports the jolly mythical figure had been banned from
traditional pre-Christmas visits to kindergartens.
Officials were fending off headlines that Santa - also known
as St Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Father Christmas - was no
longer welcome to hand out sweets to good little girls and boys
because he tended to scare them.
"What we are concerned about is to have a St Nicholas that
doesn't seem threatening," Monika Sperber, a spokesperson for
deputy mayor Grete Laska, said.
The municipality issued a statement on Thursday explaining
it wanted to ensure children were not frightened by Santa's
visits by having only adults they know dress up in the
traditional red bishop's habit.
"There has never been a ban on St Nicholas in Vienna's
kindergartens," Laska said in a statement.
Through her spokesperson, Laska denied speculation in
Austrian media that the reported clampdown on St Nicholas was an
act of "political correctness" to avoid offending the increasing
number of Muslim immigrant children in Austrian schools.
In Christian tradition St Nicholas - dating from the 4th
century - is a jolly figure who brings sweets and small gifts to
well-behaved boys and girls.
- Reuters