How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas died in the fourth century and was bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey. He was renowned for his generosity to the poor and was acclaimed as a wonder-worker. According to legend, he restored to life three little boys who had been murdered--because of this miracle, St. Nicholas is venerated as the patron saint of children. In many parts of Central Europe and the Low Countries, it is customary to celebrate his feast day, December 6, as a prelude to Christmas by leaving little gifts for children in his name.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Preparation
-
1
Gather children on the night before St. Nicholas Day and tell them his story. Read a child-friendly account of his life, such as Demi's "The Legend of St. Nicholas" or one of the stories available online at the St. Nicholas Center website. (See References) Put special emphasis on the story of the three bags of gold St. Nicholas left for an impoverished family.
-
2
Ask the children to hang a sock or place one of their shoes at the foot of their beds. After the children are asleep, leave a small toy and some Christmas chocolates in their sock or shoe as a gift from St. Nicholas.
-
-
3
Throw a party in your home or at your church on St. Nicholas Day. Have an adult dress as St. Nicholas. You'll need a red cape, a bishop's miter that you can make from cardboard covered in gold or silver foil and a fake, white beard. Take the opportunity to shift the focus of the holidays away from presents the children receive to what they can do to brighten the day of less fortunate children. Let each child give St. Nicholas some chocolates, candy canes or gingerbread cookies to take to the local food bank as a treat for disadvantaged children.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Remember to emphasize St. Nicholas' generosity to people in need. Encourage the children to imitate his example by helping them participate in a local charitable project, such as collecting scarves, hats, gloves and mittens for a shelter for mothers and children, contributing toys to a Toys for Tots program or taking holiday foods to your town's food bank.
Contrary to popular opinion, Santa Claus is not St. Nicholas. Although in his poem, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," Clement Clarke Moore referred to Santa as "St. Nick," there is little similarity between Moore's "right jolly old elf," and the fourth-century bishop.
