Happy St. Nicholas' Feast Day!

Today, December 6th, Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians celebrate St. Nicholas Feast Day.

Saint Nicholas was a historic 4th Century Saint. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker.

Galerie Art Praha [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, children and students in various countries in the Balkans and Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia), as well as in parts of Western Europe (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal).

Traditionally, the Saint Nicholas Day is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the British Father Christmas, derives from these legends.

How People Throughout The World Celebrate St. Nicholas Day

In Belgium, on the evening of December 5th, young children put their shoes in front of the chimneys and sing Sinterklaas songs. Often they put a carrot or some hay in the shoes, as a gift to St. Nicholas' horse. The next morning they will find a small present in their shoes, ranging from sweets to marbles or some other small toy. St. Nicholas brings presents only to children who behaved well in the past year. If children had been naughty, St. Nicholas’ helpers will put them in sacks, and take them away.

In Germany, children put a boot called ‘Nikolaus boot’ outside the front door on the night of December 5th. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks upon the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year. If they were not, they will have a tree branch in their boots instead.

In France, bakeries and home kitchens are center of activity, as spiced gingerbread biscuits are baked. In schools, children learn songs and poems and create arts and crafts about St. Nicolas.

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In Italy, gifts are given to young brides who need help before getting married.

In Central Europe in highly Catholic regions, the local priest is informed by the parents about their children's behavior and then the priest would personally visit the homes wearing the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod.

In Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Saint Nicholas brings gifts to children who behaved well over the past year. If they failed to do so they would receive a visit from Krampus (St. Nicholas helpers), who traditionally leaves a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them.

In the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine, St. Nicholas is often accompanied by an angel who acts as a counterweight to the ominous devil.

In Romania and Hungary, children typically leave their well-cleaned boots on the windowsill on the evening of December 5th. By next morning St. Nicholas (‘Sfântul Nicolae’ in Romania) leaves candy and gifts if they have been good, or a rod if they have been bad (most children end up getting small gifts, but also a small rod).

In United States and Canada, while feasts of Saint Nicholas are not observed nationally, cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee, Cincinnati and St. Louis celebrate St. Nick's Day on a scale similar to the German custom. As in other countries, many people celebrate St Nicholas Day by putting their shoes outside their bedroom doors or hanging an empty stocking by the fireplace on the evening of December 5th. Next morning they will find their shoes/stockings filled with gifts and sugary treats. This tradition has spread among the German, Polish, Belgian and Dutch communities throughout the United States.

I gathered some information from various sources across internet to spread the world about St. Nicholas. I apologize that I can't give the right credits, as I didn't think about this issue at that time. This article is for information purpose and fun, you will find some parts on my FB page and other personal social media platforms.

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