Ready To Celebrate St. Nick
By Anna
@LadyDuck (471421)
Switzerland
December 6, 2017 7:08am CST
Today, December 6th, is the feast of Saint Nicholas.
In many parts of Europe, children receive gifts on this day.
In some countries of north Europe, boys dress as bishops and walk the streets asking for donations to give to the poor.
The figure of St. Nicholas is derived from the Bishop Nicholas of Myra (Greece), known for for his habit to donate to the poor by putting coins in their shoes, while they were sleeping.
Following this legend, here in Switzerland, kids put their shoes outside the door the night of St. Nicholas, hoping to find some coins when they wake up in the morning.
As per the local tradition, today I have put up my Christmas decorations.
Tonight I will light the fireplace and we will have dinner enjoying the view of the burning logs.
Do you put your clogs outside the door waiting for St. Nick?
64 people like this
67 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
6 Dec 17
When we lived in Germany we put our shoes out. It was a fun custom.
12 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
6 Dec 17
@LadyDuck yes, and it was fun learning and experiencing new things. I loved living in Germany 
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 17
@Tampa_girl7 It is a beautiful country, I love their Christmas markets.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
6 Dec 17
@Rollo1 well hello there stranger. It is so nice to see you
7 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
6 Dec 17
@Tampa_girl7 Hi Marie. I am not going to say that I am trying to return, because then I always fail, but I hope to be around more.
4 people like this
. He is celebrated only in Northern and Eastern France, I do not know if they put their shoes outdoors, as I never went there in December.
. I hope the kids will do it, it is important to keep old traditions alive
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
6 Dec 17
That is such a wonderful tradition. Mom used to do that too but in her case she'd put chocolates in our shoes. She always told us that if we were naughty we would only get switches. I'm not sure where she got her ideas from but I know that somewhere down her line were German immigrants, she was born in 1916.
5 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Dec 17
Never seen anyone put logs outside here @LadyDuck
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@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Dec 17
@LadyDuck we get chocolate logs - just a sponge cake covered in log shaped chocolate
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@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 17
@arthurchappell In France I prepared the chocolate log to serve for Christmas.
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@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
8 Dec 17
I did on the 6th. When I was a kid, in Italy we used to put up our decorations the 7th of December (Saint Ambroise) the Saint Patron of our city of Milan. The Christmas market started on that day and it is also La Scala Opera Theater opens its season on this day.
4 people like this
@marguicha (223097)
• Chile
6 Dec 17
We don´t have this holiday here but I think that it is beautiful. There are many things we do during Christmas yet not many people know why they do it. For instance, we all take away the tree on January 6th, but not many know that it has to do with the coming of the wise men.
4 people like this
@marguicha (223097)
• Chile
6 Dec 17
@LadyDuck When I was small, my father bought a branch of a real tree and its smell meant Christmas for me
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 17
@marguicha We used to buy a real tree when I was a kid. I remember that my father placed the tree (a big tree) in the formal dining room where we used to have the Christmas lunch and dinner. All the gifts were placed under the tree. Beautiful memories.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
7 Dec 17
That's a beautiful tradition they in North Europe.
I have a nephew born December 6. He should have been named Nicolas then with nickname of Nick.
A very informative post you have. Another learned information about tradition from other countries.
4 people like this
@1creekgirl (41444)
• United States
6 Dec 17
Here in rural NC, if I put my shoes on the porch, some wild animal or even my cat would take off with them!
3 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
7 Dec 17
we do not celebrate St. Nick's feast day, but tomorrow is a holiday because it is Immaculate Conception. Santa Claus is often depicted here as the old man giving gifts. i recall a picture where a Santa Claus carried my son who was a year old, and my son was crying.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
8 Dec 17
@ridingbet I am right back from Italy, Mom is not improving at all.
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@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
8 Dec 17
@LadyDuck i hope your mother is getting better.
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@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
6 Dec 17
I have never heard of this tradition until this year and I think it is so wonderful and interesting. I wish that we celebrated it her. Happy Saint Nicholas Day to you? Is it is a holiday?
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 17
@Happy2BeMe We had not the habit, because we did not celebrate in my country, but I was glad to adopt this tradition.
3 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
6 Dec 17
@LadyDuck Very cool. That is such a wonderful tradition! Enjoy!
3 people like this
