St. Nicholas Eve is December 5th! Be sure to put your shoes out to see what he will bring!
When I was in elementary school I loved learning about all the international personas of Santa Claus.
The varied forms he takes with different names and visual appearances, were totally enchanting and heightened the magical feeling of Christmastime.
What is St. Nicholas Eve?
In many places in the world, St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas is viewed to be the gift giver during the Advent season.
His feast day, St. Nicholas Day, is December 6th.
On the eve of his day, on December 5, he pays nocturnal visits with his side kick Black Peter (or Zwarte Piet), his alter ego wielding coal for ne’er-do-wells who have not been so nice over the past year.
Children leave their shoes out in the hopes to find small gifts on the morning of December 6th.
The spirit of St. Nicholas Eve and day is one focused on giving over receiving, remembering those less fortunate and that St. Nicholas loved children.
Photo credit: Gaby Kooiman, CC BY-SA 3.0
When is St. Nicholas Eve?
December 5 is St Nicholas Eve. On that night children (but I say everyone should join in the fun!) put their shoes out (typically outside but due to voracious squirrels in our ‘hood, we make it an indoor thing) in the hopes of some sweets in the morning.
What Goes in Shoes for St. Nicholas Eve?
Some examples of what one might find in their shoes:
Oranges or tangerines are often found (as well as in Christmas stockings) as they symbolize the gold balls St. Nicholas would throw to the children.
I suspect as well before current day globalization of food, citrus fruits were scarce in winter therefore making them a prized treat.
Candy croziers, or candy canes, are shaped after bishop’s or shepherd’s staffs and are given out as a reminder of the care St. Nicholas had for people.
Gold coins, real or in chocolate, symbolize coins thrown through a window by St. Nicholas to free servant girls.
Often little toys or sweets are included too. I loved this DIY article on how to turn any brand chocolate Santa into a St. Nicholas!
Additional ideas include:
- Chocolate St. Nicholas figures
- Spiced Speculaas Cookies
- Windmill Speculaas Cookies
- These St. Nicholas cookies even made Oprah’s Favorite List!
Feast of St. Nicholas on St. Nicholas Day (December 6)
December 6 is the Feast of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas Day is the day of the real saint’s death.
Many traditional foods are served. Speculaas, are a special ginger cookie typically done in beautiful molds though does not have to be done so.
This fun Speculaas Cookie recipe provides some additional background about St. Nicholas and the feast as well on their website.
St. Nicholas Around the World
The customs and traditions regarding St. Nicholas vary in countries around the world.
To learn more on the specific traditions, this list by country gives specifics on how traditions are celebrated.
Any readers who actively practice this tradition I’d love to hear more about what you do in your family or home!
Originally published: December 5, 2010
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Douglas Cannell says
In my family we were told to put our shoes in front of the fireplace and when we retrieved them the next morning, they would be filled with small candies! ( like bite size snickers and the like! Though back when we were growing up that specific candy, didn’t exist)!! Their were 7 kids in my family, so 14 shoes covered the front of the fireplace! It was an amazing start ( more or less ) to the holiday season for us all.
Toni Dash says
I love the image of all the shoes!
Sue Hill says
My kids grew up with the tradition of St Niklaus and still today get German Spekulatius in their Advent boxes. A couple of years ago I was in a school in Slovakia for a week and the 18 year old students presented me with chocolate figures of St Niklaus and his little Devil assistant. I do miss Christmas in Germany but get to go into my grand children’s school to tell the little ones about Christmas traditions and show them our collection of Father Christmas/Santas from around the world. Hope you are all eating Lebkuchen while drinking the Gluehwein!
Woerd says
Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are actualy Dutch but the tradition is similar in Gemany.
nina says
st.nicholas comes to night i think two or one year ago i put out my shoes and foulnd money in them thats what st.nicholas gave me
Valerie @ From Valerie's Kitchen says
I really enjoyed reading about the tradition of putting the shoes out. Funny how these things carry through the generations in bits and pieces. We used to always put out our shoes the night before Easter so the Easter bunny would put an Easter egg in them. And, he always did!
Kiri W. says
I love the Dutch version of the holiday, but having grown up in Germany, I never understood why Spain, and why on a boat! For us, Sankt Nikolaus comes on the roofs, looking like a proper bishop, accompanied by a devil-like creature. Coals for naughty kids, chocolates and nuts for the good ones š