Medieval children sang to St Nicholas as they begged for presents.
In Artois they sang:
Saint Nicholas, patron of good children
I kneel for you to intercede.
Hear my voice through the clouds
And this night give me some toys [joujoux].
I want most of all a playhouse
With some flowers and little birds,
A mountain, a green meadow,
And some sheep drinking in the brooks.
In the Netherlands they begged:
Sinterklaes, good noble man,
Put something in my shoe,
An apple or a lemon,
A nut to crack.