Due to a European affect on my aspect of the household, I grew up celebrating the custom of St. Nicholas Day on December sixth.
Many individuals simply know St. Nicholas by the title 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 dad and mom at an early age, although they left him nice wealth after they died. The actual St. Nicholas was recognized for giving nameless presents to assist these in want and was ultimately made a bishop of Myra.
The great bishop died on December sixth; thus at the present time 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 Reward Giving?
The historical past of leaving footwear or stockings out on St. Nick’s Day possible stems from the story of him leaving small luggage of gold for a person and his three daughters. Throughout these occasions girls needed to carry a dowry to a wedding as a way 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 accordance with legend, St. Nick threw three luggage of gold by 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 fun the feast of St. Nicholas. It’s additionally noticed in Orthodox and Catholic faiths (and generally 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 at the present time:
Shen’Kollë in Greece
Greece (in addition to Albania, Serbia, and Bulgaria), have fun 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, at the present time is certainly one of fasting, not gift-giving. In truth, on at the present time, most individuals abstain from meat, quick utterly, or put together a feast to eat simply after midnight.
Sinterklaas in Belgium & Netherlands
In these international locations, youngsters depart their boots in entrance of the fireside for St. Nicholas. Typically, they embrace a carrot or a deal with for his horses Legend has it that he arrived together 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 youngsters small presents and goodies. Within the weeks main as much as at the present time, dad and mom and grandparents inform tales of the legend of St. Nick. This included a disturbing however well-liked one.
The story goes that three youngsters wandered away and bought misplaced. A butcher lured them into his store the place he killed them and salted them away in a big tub. In accordance with legend, St. Nicholas revived the boys and introduced them dwelling to their households. (A minimum of there’s a contented ending!)
This story earned St. Nicholas his fame as a protector of youngsters in France. The butcher (referred to as “Père Fouettard,” that means “Father Whipper”) is imagined to comply with St. Nicholas in penance. He’ll depart lumps of coal and even whip misbehaving youngsters. In France, statues and work usually painting this occasion, displaying the saint with youngsters 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, youngsters pass over a boot for St. Nicholas and obtain small toys, cash, or sweet. In these areas, St. Nicholas nonetheless attire 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 youngsters who misbehave. He’ll seize notably naughty youngsters 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 components of Europe.
December fifth is named Krampus Night time, or Krampusnacht, the place the furry satan seems on the streets. Historically younger males gown up because the Krampus on the night time of December fifth. They’ll roam the streets scary youngsters 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 option to have fun St. Nicholas Day! He was a superb bishop recognized 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 Introduction.
Leaving Sneakers or Boots Out on December fifth
We pass over a shoe or boot within the hallway on the night of December fifth for St. Nick’s arrival. That is just like the concept of doing stockings, although we try this as nicely on Christmas Day. Within the boots, my children normally discover:
- Cash: Every youngster receives some quarters of their shoe to indicate the cash St. Nicholas gave.
- Wholesome Treats: As an alternative of numerous sweet canes and sugary treats I’ll depart some wholesome treats. These can embrace darkish chocolate, small luggage of nuts, or selfmade marshmallows.
- Oranges: These signify the gold St. Nick gave away and my children 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 artistic methods to assist these in want in our native space. We’ll then set about our “secret” mission to carry some pleasure to others.
Previously, we’ve executed issues like:
- Drop off grocery retailer present playing cards to households in want.
- Give an enormous 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 applications.
The listing of prospects is infinite, and it’s all the time a superb 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 take into account 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 cross on the statue to and one thing type to do for them. This might be a small present, a household exercise, or simply an act of kindness.
- Anonymously depart 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 cross on a sort act. We additionally print out a paper that “We’ve been visited by St. Nicholas.” This means they will put up it of their entrance window so others know they’ve already been visited.
Whether or not you have fun 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. Pleased Feast of St. Nicholas, from my household to yours!
Does your loved ones have fun St. Nicholas Day? What are your traditions?
