When is Saint Nicholas Day? This holiday is always observed on December 6
St. Nicholas Day is today, a December 6 holiday. Yes, there really was a Christian Saint Nicholas. He lived in the country of Greece, just a couple hundred years after the birth of Christ. This day is in honor of Saint Nicholas and his life. Saint Nicholas became a priest, and later, a Bishop of the early Catholic Church. True to the Christian concept of giving up belongings and following Christ, St. Nicholas gave up all of his belongings. He was well known for giving to needy people, especially children. There are many stories and tales of him helping out children in need.
The practice of hanging up stockings originated with Saint Nicholas. As the ancient legend goes, Saint Nicholas was known to throw small bags of gold coins into the open windows of poor homes. After one bag of gold fell into the stocking of a child, news got around. Children soon began hanging their stockings by their chimneys "in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there".
Leaving out Shoes
The most common way to celebrate St. Nicholas Day is to leave shoes out for St. Nicholas to place small gifts in. Socks are fine, too.
Traditionally, the gifts are simply small candies or coins—little items that bring a lot of joy to children. If you wish to celebrate this tradition, leave shoes or wooden clogs by the door on the evening of December 5.
In the morning, the shoes will be filled with small delights (candy canes, spare change, foreign coins).
The Candy Cane
The candy cane also symbolizes St. Nicholas, representing his staff. Add small candy canes to the shoes, or decorate your tree! We won't tell if you eat a few candies on the way!
- 1 package (25 pc.) green chenille pipe cleaners, 12″ x 6mm
- 1 package pony beads — red, 6×9 mm
- 1 package pony beads — white, 6×9 mm
INSTRUCTIONS
- Use wire cutters or old scissors to cut the pipe cleaners in half.
- Slide one bead to the end of a pipe cleaner, turning the end around the bead to keep it in place. Alternate red and white beads until the pipe cleaner is full.
- Turn the end around the last bead. Bend into a candy cane shape and hang on your tree.
- The candy cane may also be used as a package decoration
Oreos and Candy Cane Chocolate Bark
- 2 packages (10 ounces each) dark chocolate chips
- 10 candy cane or chocolate mint creme Oreo cookies, split and chopped
- 10 candy cane or chocolate mint creme Oreo cookies, split and chopped
- 1/3 cup white baking chips
- 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 candy canes, crushed
Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment. In the top of a double boiler or a metal bowl over hot water, melt dark chocolate; stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in cookies; spread over prepared pan.
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