Nikolaus & Krampus in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: Sat 5 and Sun 6 December 2026
Short answer: on the evening of Saturday 5 December children put a clean boot or shoe outside the door, and Nikolaus (St Nicholas) fills it with mandarins, nuts and chocolate overnight. Nikolaustag itself is Sunday 6 December 2026. It is not a public holiday, but because it falls on a Sunday, ordinary shops are closed anyway. In Austria and parts of Bavaria the 5th is also Krampusnacht, with Krampus runs where costumed devils walk through town. These are local events with no national programme, so check your town's listing.
EveSat 5 Dec 2026NikolaustagSun 6 Dec 2026Last checked2026-10-25
What happens on 5 and 6 December
Evening of 5 December: shoes out
Children polish a boot (Stiefel putzen) and set it outside the front door or by the window. Overnight Nikolaus leaves small gifts: mandarins, nuts, gingerbread, chocolate. In many families a naughty child traditionally gets a Rute (a bundle of twigs) as a joke. Some kindergartens and schools do the shoe ritual on the last school day before the 6th instead.
Nikolaus visits
On or around the 6th, someone dressed as Nikolaus, with a bishop's hat and staff, visits kindergartens, schools, clubs and sometimes homes, with a book and a sack. Expect a short poem or song from the children. In Switzerland he is often called Samichlaus (or Chlaus) and walks with a helper called Schmutzli.
Krampus and Krampusnacht
Krampus is a horned, fur-clad devil figure who accompanies Nikolaus in Austria, Bavaria and nearby regions. A Krampuslauf (or Perchtenlauf) is a parade of costumed runners with masks, bells and sometimes fire. Many are organised by village associations in late November and early December; the biggest crowds are usually on the weekend around the 5th. Dates and places differ every year, so check your town's listing, usually late Nov to early Dec.
What is open and closed
Nikolaustag is not a public holiday in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Schools, offices and kindergartens run as normal on a normal weekday.
Saturday 5 December 2026: normal Saturday shop hours. Sunday 6 December 2026: ordinary shops and supermarkets are closed under the usual Sunday rules in all three countries.
Typical Sunday exceptions: bakeries with Sunday opening, petrol stations, railway station shops, restaurants and cafes. Many Christmas markets are open on Sundays, but hours differ, so check each market.
Stock up on groceries on Saturday. If you want chocolate or mandarins for shoes, buy them before Sunday.
Joining in alone
Christmas markets are the easiest start. Many are already open by 5 December. Go in the late afternoon, get a Glühwein or Kinderpunsch, and talk to the stall owners; a short chat is normal.
Ask a neighbour, colleague or your child's Kita what they do. Most people love explaining their family version, and it is a natural way to break the ice.
Put your own boot out. Adults do it too, and a small bag of mandarins and chocolate for a flatmate or neighbour is a warm gesture.
Krampus runs: go as a spectator, ideally with someone, or join a small group via Meet & Mint. Look for the town's official run rather than a rumour on social media.
Safety at a Krampuslauf
Keep a few metres back from the route and stay behind any barriers. Runners may swing birch switches or rattle bells, and a hit on the legs is common even for spectators in the front row.
Do not touch the masks or costumes, and do not provoke the Krampus figures. Some may chase or grab onlookers in play; if you do not want that, stay at the back.
Small children can find it truly frightening. Watch from a distance, stay in the back rows, and leave if they cry. Nikolaus visits suit toddlers better.
Fire and pyrotechnics can be part of the show. Keep to the marked areas, avoid synthetic jackets near sparks and watch for crowds when the run ends.
Ice, crowds and drinks mix badly: arrive early, wear warm shoes and plan your way home.
Useful phrases
Nikolaustag: St Nicholas Day, 6 December
Stiefel putzen: to clean the boot (before putting it out)
Nikolaus / Samichlaus: St Nicholas / Swiss name for him
Krampus: the devil figure beside Nikolaus
Krampuslauf / Perchtenlauf: Krampus run, a costumed parade
Rute: bundle of twigs, the joke gift for naughty children
Wann ist der Krampuslauf?: When is the Krampus run?
When are Nikolaus and Krampus in 2026? Krampusnacht and the shoe ritual are on the evening of Saturday 5 December 2026. Nikolaustag is Sunday 6 December 2026. Krampus runs are held on varying dates, mostly late November to early December.
Is 6 December a public holiday? No. Nikolaustag is not a public holiday in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so ordinary shops are closed because of the normal Sunday rules.
Is a Krampuslauf safe for children? It can be rough and loud. Keep a distance, stay behind barriers and consider skipping it for small children. A visit from Nikolaus is gentler.
What do I do with the boot on the evening of 5 December? Clean a boot or shoe, set it outside the front door or by the window, and Nikolaus is said to fill it overnight with sweets, nuts and mandarins.
Where is the nearest Krampuslauf? There is no national list. Check your town's or tourist office's event listing, usually published in November, and use official announcements.
Checked 25 October 2026. Customs are general and vary by region. We list no 2026 run dates, venues or times; check your town's listing.
How it works
Read what happens on 5 and 6 December, then find your own town's Krampuslauf or Nikolaus listing (town website, tourist office, Kita or school).
Open Meet & Mint: events and people near you on one map.
Join an event alone and chat with the group before you go.
Meet at the event. Many events from our sites are in the app too.