Can someone tell me about St. Nicks day?

[Minnie824]

I know to some this may sound like a dumb question, but I have no idea what goes on for St. Nicks Day. I have heard of it, and I think its soon? Can anyone tell me about it, what you do to celebrate or any traditions? Thanks!

 

[BabyTigger99]

St Nick comes on the night of the 5th and fills the kids stockings. I know it is a regional thing, as we celebrate it, but my husband, who grew up an hour south from me, had never heard of it before we started dating. And his daughter celebrates it at our house, but not at her mom's.

 

[Hedy]

I know to some this may sound like a dumb question, but I have no idea what goes on for St. Nicks Day. I have heard of it, and I think its soon? Can anyone tell me about it, what you do to celebrate or any traditions? Thanks!

Traditionally (we yoinked this from our German neighbors) children leave shoes out on Dec 5, and on Dec 6 there are treats in them. There's also a traditional yeast bread which is made.

 

[mickeyboat]

The kids are putting their shoes out tomorrow night, and St. Nick is coming during the evening while they are at Girl Scouts. This year he is bringing some small toys and some goodies.

I was born in MN and moved all over the midwest, New England and in NC, and we were the only family outside of MN that I can remember ever celebrating it.

Denae

 

[mtemm]

we did this growing up. we always put our shoes out on the 5th, and on the 6th woke up to small treats/toys. I remember we used to get orange slices a lot. My kids will put theirs out tomorrow night, and st. nick will bring them some crayons, a couple of dum-dums, and a chocolate santa.

 

[Big V]

From Google:
Like many ancient traditions, the history of St. Nick's is debated. Some say St. Nick's Day is a decidedly German observance. Others say it is Spanish or Dutch. What is known is that St. Nicholas lived in the fourth century. He was a Christian prelate and the patron saint of Russia. Nicholas was a native of Patara, in the ancient district of Lycia in Asia Minor (now Turkey). He became archbishop of the metropolitan church in Myra, Lycia.

How he came to be so famous is a little bit of a saucy tale, not suitable for tender ears. Legend has it that he took pity on a poor man who was about to abandon his daughters to - get the kids away from the newspaper - prostitution. The story goes that he left trinkets for the man in his chimney. From this came the custom of secret gifts on the eve of the feast day celebrating St. Nicholas. Because of the close proximity of dates, Christmas and St. Nicholas Day are now celebrated simultaneously in many countries.

 

[Dreaming of Disney]

December sixth is actually the feast day of St. Nicholas. As with many feast days the celebrating traditionally starts(ed) the night before.

I come from a German Catholic family and we have always hung stockings for St. Nick. Even in school (Catholic School) we hung our stocking on the fifth and St. Nick filled them for the sixth.

Usually the stocking gets filled with fruit, nuts, candy and a small toy or trinket.

My kids are already excited about tomorrow night.

 

[helenabear]

We did this growing up as well. We had our stockings hung for him to fill up. We usually got small toys, candies, an ornament or the like in it the next day. In fact, I still hang one of the ornaments I remember getting as a child on St. Nick's day... saw it Saturday when I dug it out and smiled remembering opening it up. It was quite a common thing to do in the German Catholic town I grew up in.