Because of a European influence on my facet of the household, I grew up celebrating the custom of St. Nicholas Day on December sixth.
Many individuals simply know St. Nicholas by the identify of Santa Claus. Whereas the fashionable determine of Santa derives from St. Nick, you’d hardly discover this patron saint of kids making toys on the North Pole.
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The Story of St. Nicholas
The real man behind the fictitious modern day Santa Claus and Father Christmas was St. Nicholas of Myra. Born in 280 A.D. in Asia Minor, he misplaced his dad and mom at an early age, although they left him nice wealth once they died. The true St. Nicholas was identified for giving nameless presents to assist these in want and was ultimately made a bishop of Myra.
The nice bishop died on December sixth; thus this present day is now Saint Nicholas Day.
For a captivating rationalization of how a person with a beard, reindeer, and the North Pole got here to be related to St. Nick, see this podcast episode about Santa Claus and the roots of the story in Finnish tradition.
Why the Present Giving?
The historical past of leaving footwear or stockings out on St. Nick’s Day probably stems from the story of him leaving small baggage of gold for a person and his three daughters. Throughout these instances girls needed to deliver a dowry to a wedding with a purpose to discover a good husband.
St. Nick heard of a person who had three daughters however couldn’t afford the dowry. With out it, the daughters would probably enter a lifetime of prostitution as an alternative of with the ability to marry. In response to legend, St. Nick threw three baggage of gold by way of their window at night time (some say down the chimney) the place they discovered them the following morning. This saved them from a life at a brothel and cemented his place because the patron of gift-giving.
St. Nicholas Day Across the World
Varied cultures world wide have a good time the feast of St. Nicholas. It’s additionally noticed in Orthodox and Catholic faiths (and typically protestant Christian ones). Our family custom is a hybrid of a number of cultural traditions associated to St. Nick.
That is how some cultures world wide keep in mind this present day:
Shen’Kollë in Greece
Greece (in addition to Albania, Serbia, and Bulgaria), have a good time St Nicholas on the eve of his feast day, December fifth. At the present time is named Shen’Kolli i Dimnit (Saint Nicholas of Winter). In these cultures, this present day is one among fasting, not gift-giving. Actually, on this present day, most individuals abstain from meat, quick fully, or put together a feast to eat simply after midnight.
Sinterklaas in Belgium & Netherlands
In these international locations, kids go away their boots in entrance of the hearth for St. Nicholas. Typically, they embrace a carrot or a deal with for his horses Legend has it that he arrived along with his horses through sleigh or steamboat in these areas.
St. Nicholas and Père Fouettard in France
In France, St. Nicholas arrives on December sixth and offers kids small presents and goodies. Within the weeks main as much as this present day, dad and mom and grandparents inform tales of the legend of St. Nick. This included a disturbing however standard one.
The story goes that three kids wandered away and received misplaced. A butcher lured them into his store the place he killed them and salted them away in a big tub. In response to legend, St. Nicholas revived the boys and introduced them residence to their households. (At the least there’s a cheerful ending!)
This story earned St. Nicholas his status as a protector of kids in France. The butcher (often called “Père Fouettard,” which means “Father Whipper”) is imagined to observe St. Nicholas in penance. He’ll go away lumps of coal and even whip misbehaving kids. In France, statues and work usually painting this occasion, exhibiting the saint with kids in a barrel.
Sankt Nikolaus and Krampusnacht in Germany and Austria
The best way our household honors St. Nicholas primarily facilities on this custom. In Germany and Austria, kids omit a boot for St. Nicholas and obtain small toys, cash, or sweet. In these areas, St. Nicholas nonetheless clothes like a bishop and is usually portrayed on a horse. Just like the French story, a sinister companion accompanies St. Nick, on this case, the much more terrifying demon-like Krampus.
In these areas, they don’t fiddle with an Elf on the Shelf to encourage youngsters to be good. They invoke the legend of the Krampus! This beast is believed to punish kids who misbehave. He’ll seize significantly naughty kids in his sack and carry them away to his lair. The Krampus was derived from previous pagan Winter Solistice celebrations and has roots in Germanic folklore. Its affect has unfold to Austria and all through elements of Europe.
December fifth is named Krampus Evening, or Krampusnacht, the place the bushy satan seems on the streets. Historically younger males costume up because the Krampus on the night time of December fifth. They’ll roam the streets horrifying kids with rusty chains and bells.
Our St. Nicholas Day Traditions
Spooky tales are enjoyable in their very own manner, however by no means concern … there’s a extra cheerful technique to have a good time St. Nicholas Day! He was bishop identified for serving to others, in spite of everything. We honor St. Nicholas feast day in our household by celebrating in a number of methods. The result’s an adaptation of a mixture of celebrations from world wide. Having some vacation enjoyable nicely earlier than Christmas morning is a good way to kick off Introduction.
Leaving Sneakers or Boots Out on December fifth
We omit a shoe or boot within the hallway on the night of December fifth for St. Nick’s arrival. That is much like the concept of doing stockings, although we do this as nicely on Christmas Day. Within the boots, my youngsters often discover:
- Cash: Every youngster receives some quarters of their shoe to suggest the cash St. Nicholas gave.
- Wholesome Treats: As a substitute of numerous sweet canes and sugary treats I’ll go away some wholesome treats. These can embrace darkish chocolate, small baggage of nuts, or homemade marshmallows.
- Oranges: These signify the gold St. Nick gave away and my youngsters love oranges this time of yr. We didn’t use to get them throughout the winter, however now we stay within the south they’re in season even when the Christmas tree is up!
Random Acts of Kindness
A very powerful lesson from the legend of St. Nicholas is his generosity. To assist us all keep in mind this, we make a degree to do random acts of kindness this time of yr. We brainstorm inventive methods to assist these in want in our native space. We’ll then set about our “secret” mission to deliver some pleasure to others.
Prior to now, we’ve accomplished issues like:
- Drop off grocery retailer reward playing cards to households in want.
- Give a giant field of wrapped presents and garments to households who want them.
- Anonymously pay the utility payments of somebody in want.
- Wrap presents or donate gadgets to native foster packages.
The record of prospects is infinite, and it’s at all times a good lesson in gratitude for all our blessings.
The Touring Christmas St. Nicholas (or Angel)
That is maybe essentially the most enjoyable custom and one I hope you’ll contemplate beginning in your individual space. Within the spirit of St. Nicholas Day, we begin a touring Christmas St. Nicholas (or Angel) custom. It sparks generosity throughout our space. Right here’s the way it works:
- Get some sort of small St. Nicholas statue or angel statue.
- Consider one other household in your space you wish to cross on the statue to and one thing form to do for them. This could possibly be a small reward, a household exercise, or simply an act of kindness.
- Anonymously go away the statue on their entrance door mat one night. Embody a letter that they’ve been touched by the spirit of Christmas generosity and it’s their flip to cross on a sort act. We additionally print out a paper that “We’ve been visited by St. Nicholas.” This manner they’ll publish it of their entrance window so others know they’ve already been visited.
Whether or not you have a good time St. Nicholas Day or not, a random act of kindness is a good way to honor the Christmas season. We definitely want extra of it on the planet. Blissful Feast of St. Nicholas, from my household to yours!
Does your loved ones have a good time St. Nicholas Day? What are your traditions?
