The Shoe full of Oats for the Magic Donkey

Long before children left carrots for reindeer, kids in northern France left a specific treats for Santa's companion. In these regions, Saint Nicolas travelled on the back of a small donkey named Gui (Mistletoe). Children would clean their wooden clogs (sabots), line them with straw and oats for the hungry donkey, and place them by the hearth. If the donkey ate the food, it was replaced with speculoos biscuits and tangerines.