How to Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day

A real-life bishop in what is now Turkey, Saint Nicholas earned his sainthood for numerous miracles, but his neighbors knew him best as a kind and generous man with a great fondness for children. Today, in many parts of the world Saint Nicholas delivers gifts on the eve of his Feast Day, December 6, and Christmas is reserved for the religious observance of Christ's birth.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Party Supplies
• Books About Saint Nicholas
• Books On The Lives Of Saints
• Invitations
• Party Decorations
• Party Drinks

1. Tell your kids the story of Bishop Nicholas and how he came to be the patron saint of children.

2. Hold a Saint Nicholas Day party and serve the spicy speculaas cookies that are associated with Saint Nick. (You'll find recipes in holiday baking books.)

3. Help your children find the true spirit behind Santa Claus by emulating the Bishop's kindness: encourage them to give part of their allowance to a cause that helps children or to buy gifts for a local toy drive. You could also help them gather up outgrown clothes or old toys and give them to a charity.

4. Encourage your children to make gifts for the special people in their lives or to give them whatever help they need.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if your children still believe in a real, magical Santa Claus, telling them about Saint Nicholas now can help make the inevitable day of reckoning easier for all of you.
• No law says kids get to have all the fun on Saint Nicholas Day. After all, the good Bishop is also the patron saint of merchants and sailors. If the weather is warm enough where you live, throw a grownups' party on your boat (or rent one).

[ptjeffgm]

on 9/19/2009 As a Greek Orthodox Christian, Our church celebrates Divine Liturgy on this day for St. Nicholas. Two days earlier, Dec. 4th, St. Barbara is celebrated.

[dorothyJG]

on 9/6/2008 My family has celebrated St. Nicholas Day for as long as I can remember. But it was a prelude to Christmas, we would leave out our shoes near our bed the night before. St. Nick would come and fill them overnight, maybe a small gift and candy or just some candy. We would try leaving out boots, they hold more, y'know !!

[JRIngrisano]

on 12/6/2007 Wonderful. A lifelong Christian, I had never known about the December 6th festivities. Thank you.

[dornis]

on 12/6/2007 The primary idea I got from this article on St. Nicholas was to celebrate Christ's Birthday on December 25th and honor the true Father Christmas on December 6th or 19th, whichever we can all agree with.

[Stressman]

on 12/6/2007 I plan to celebrate. I am president of Center Of Unconditional Love at www.unconditionallovelive.com. We celebrate National Forgiveness Day on the last Saturday of October of each year. Will you help us celebrate NFD in 2008 and beyond? For the record, Jesus was born on August 21, baptised on Jan. 14, and resurrected on April 9. Should God's people celebrate these days?