Don’t forget to check your boots before you put them on this morning!
The Second Light of Advent & St. Nicholas Day by Frontier Dreams, on Flickr
When: December 6th every year.
Where: Germany and Northern European Countries.
The Second Light of Advent & St. Nicholas Day by Frontier Dreams, on Flickr
Saint Nicholas was known for his great kindness and help to those in distress. Among his most gracious acts are saving three penniless young girls from a life of prostitution by secretly providing their father with 3 purses of gold coins as dowries for them, and raising three murdered boys from the dead. For these reasons, he is considered the patron saint of children and unmarried girls among others.
Traditional celebrations of Saint Nicholas’ Day in Germany and other parts of Northern Europe include gifts left in children’s boots left outside the front door on the eve of St Nicholas’ day (the origin of Christmas stockings in other countries). Good children receive good things – sweets, gifts, oranges and nuts, while naughty children receive lumps of coal. Sometimes coins are left in the boots, representing the dowries that the saint provided.
Do you celebrate St Nicholas’ Day? If so, please tell us all about it! You can share your pics and videos on our facebook page too! Or if you just want to say hi, or leave a comment for any other reason, we’d love to hear from you.
Food & Drink
Speculaas is a spicy almond flavor biscuit with a soft, almost cake-like texture is traditionally served on Sinterklaas. Drink Gluhwein, a warm and spicy mulled wine.
Vesak day, China
Anastenaria
I wanted to say something about the St Nicholas article, you actually made a mistake. I’m from Holland, and I know that St Nicholas started in Holland. As we know, St Nicholas lives in Spain and he comes to Holland every year on the 5th of december not the 6th by the way. to give the kids presents, just like you guys have a santa. But I think it’s a bit weird why you pick Germany while Holland celebrates St Nicholas much more than the Germans do, so you actually made a mistake.
Besides much german people that I know, just celebrate christmas with a santa so, in fact, you made 2 mistakes, but I’m glad you understand the meaning of St Nicholas.
Thanks for your attention
Thank you for comments, its always lovely to actually hear from people who live in the relevant countries and celebrate these lovely traditions themselves – will update my post accordingly. Thank you Juliette