Due to a European affect 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 youngsters making toys on the North Pole.
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The Story of St. Nicholas
The actual man behind the fictional modern-day Santa Claus and Father Christmas was St. Nicholas of Myra. Born in 280 A.D. in Asia Minor, he misplaced his mother and father at an early age, although they left him nice wealth once they died. The actual St. Nicholas was identified for giving nameless items to assist these in want and was finally made a bishop of Myra.
The great bishop died on December sixth; thus today is now Saint Nicholas Day.
For an enchanting 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 possible 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 view 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 almost definitely enter a lifetime of prostitution as a substitute of having the ability to marry. In keeping with legend, St. Nick threw three baggage of gold via 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
Numerous cultures around the globe have a good time the feast of St. Nicholas. It’s additionally noticed in Orthodox and Catholic faiths (and typically protestant Christian ones). Our circle of relatives custom is a hybrid of a number of cultural traditions associated to St. Nick.
That is how some cultures around the globe keep in mind today:
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. Today is named Shen’Kolli i Dimnit (Saint Nicholas of Winter). In these cultures, today is one in all fasting, not gift-giving. In reality, on today, most individuals abstain from meat, quick utterly, or put together a feast to eat simply after midnight.
Sinterklaas in Belgium & Netherlands
In these nations, 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 provides kids small items and sweets. Within the weeks main as much as today, mother and father and grandparents inform tales of the legend of St. Nick. This included a disturbing however common one.
The story goes that three kids wandered away and obtained misplaced. A butcher lured them into his store the place he killed them and salted them away in a big tub. In keeping with legend, St. Nicholas revived the boys and introduced them residence to their households. (No less than there’s a cheerful ending!)
This story earned St. Nicholas his popularity as a protector of youngsters in France. The butcher (often known as “Père Fouettard,” which means “Father Whipper”) is imagined to comply with St. Nicholas in penance. He’ll go away lumps of coal and even whip misbehaving kids. In France, statues and work typically painting this occasion, displaying the saint with kids in a barrel.
Sankt Nikolaus and Krampusnacht in Germany and Austria
The way in which our household honors St. Nicholas primarily facilities on this custom. In Germany and Austria, kids miss a boot for St. Nicholas and obtain small toys, cash, or sweet. In these areas, St. Nicholas nonetheless clothes like a bishop and is commonly 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 children to be good. They invoke the legend of the Krampus! This beast is assumed to punish kids who misbehave. He’ll seize notably naughty kids in his sack and carry them away to his lair. The Krampus was derived from outdated 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 Night time, or Krampusnacht, the place the furry 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 scary kids with rusty chains and bells.
Our St. Nicholas Day Traditions
Spooky tales are enjoyable in their very own means, however by no means worry … there’s a extra cheerful approach to have a good time St. Nicholas Day! He was bishop identified for serving to others, in any case. We honor St. Nicholas feast day in our household by celebrating in a couple of methods. The result’s an adaptation of a mixture of celebrations from around the globe. Having some vacation enjoyable nicely earlier than Christmas morning is a good way to kick off Creation.
Leaving Footwear or Boots Out on December fifth
We miss 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 try this as nicely on Christmas Day. Within the boots, my children normally discover:
- Cash: Every baby receives some quarters of their shoe to suggest the cash St. Nicholas gave.
- Wholesome Treats: As a substitute of a lot of sweet canes and sugary treats I’ll go away some wholesome treats. These can embrace darkish chocolate, small baggage of nuts, or do-it-yourself marshmallows.
- Oranges: These signify the gold St. Nick gave away and my children love oranges this time of 12 months. We didn’t use to get them through the winter, however now we reside within the south they’re in season even when the Christmas tree is up!
Random Acts of Kindness
Crucial lesson from the legend of St. Nicholas is his generosity. To assist us all keep in mind this, we make some extent to do random acts of kindness this time of 12 months. 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.
Up to now, we’ve finished issues like:
- Drop off grocery retailer reward playing cards to households in want.
- Give a giant field of wrapped items and garments to households who want them.
- Anonymously pay the utility payments of somebody in want.
- Wrap items or donate gadgets to native foster packages.
The listing of potentialities is countless, and it’s at all times 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 think about 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 type of small St. Nicholas statue or angel statue.
- Consider one other household in your space you wish to move 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. Embrace a letter that they’ve been touched by the spirit of Christmas generosity and it’s their flip to move on a form act. We additionally print out a paper that “We’ve been visited by St. Nicholas.” This means 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. Completely happy Feast of St. Nicholas, from my household to yours!
Does your loved ones have a good time St. Nicholas Day? What are your traditions?
