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Mar 25th, 2025
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It's coming up fast--December 6. What did you get for St. Nicholas Day when you were a kid?
We hung our stockings up on a bookcase (no fireplace in our house) and were delighted with a popcorn ball, an orange in the toe and a can of coconut along with some chocolates. I know, coconut is not your normal gift. But we all loved coconut and getting a small can all to ourselves was surely a treat!
What did you get?
Tim
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Remember when all of the Slavic Social Clubs gave out St. Nicholas/Christmas treats? My Dad would always have several bags to bring home for us kids. Popcorn balls, Mallow Cups and Reeses Cups, Candy Canes, chocolate Santa's. Those were the days!
Ungcsertezs
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UC - Mallow cups bring back some memories!!! You just don't see them around here very often... when I do see them I splurge!
WE got chocolate Santas and other candies in our shoes.... No fireplace growing up, so I guess Saint Nicholas decided it was easier to "go Dutch" and use our shoes...
And coconut is not a bad gift! St. Nick can leave Almond Joys any time he wishes...
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My son, Nicholas, used to "cash in" that day. My relatives and inlaws usually sent him a wad of cash like they'd do on his birthday. Then they'd turn around and send him another for Christmas. The fall of the year was really good for him: birthday in September, St. Nicholas Day, and Christmas.  BOB
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My son, Nicholas, used to "cash in" that day. My relatives and inlaws usually sent him a wad of cash like they'd do on his birthday. Then they'd turn around and send him another for Christmas. The fall of the year was really good for him: birthday in September, St. Nicholas Day, and Christmas. BOB Nicholas' good fortune would make any child green with envy! 
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My mother did strive to offer to my sister and to me a few sweets in the glorious day of the Christmas. At St. Nicholas nothing. I remember the deep frost from my room, the darkness because the light was taken regularly about 4 hours every evening, about the two hours of cold water in 24 hrs, about the unended row of homework done at the light of a gas lamp.
Christ is Risen!
marian+
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Remember when all of the Slavic Social Clubs gave out St. Nicholas/Christmas treats? Are there places that no longer do this? St. Nicholas Day for us is the 17th, and on the Sunday nearest to it St. Nicholas comes to the social center after the liturgy and passes out gift packages which includes a small icon, some candy, and a small loaf of bozhe bread baked by our Pani. On the night before the 17th we have our kids put their shoes in front of the icon stand and we put some additional treats in them.
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Remember when all of the Slavic Social Clubs gave out St. Nicholas/Christmas treats? Are there places that no longer do this? St. Nicholas Day for us is the 17th, and on the Sunday nearest to it St. Nicholas comes to the social center after the liturgy and passes out gift packages which includes a small icon, some candy, and a small loaf of bozhe bread baked by our Pani. On the night before the 17th we have our kids put their shoes in front of the icon stand and we put some additional treats in them. Isn't St. Nicholas day December 19th on the old calendar? Dec 19th minus 13 days equals December 6th.
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Yes, I don't know why I had the 17th in my head.
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Anhelyna-- "him will Nicholas receive, and give help in time of need!" You're never too old!!!
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In Greece, just as in many other saint's day, there is no particular celebrating other than celebrating one's name day. (Unless it is the patron saint of a region, then the whole region has a party)
Ofcourse, St. Nicholas (Ayios Nikolas) is very dear to the Greeks because he is considered the patron saint of those travelling at sea, and with such a traditionally large sea faring industry this meant alot. There are many miracles attributed to St. Nicholas having saved those at sea.
That usually means an open house for all the family's friends to stop by, to greet you and give you nameday blessings and wishes, etc... and for the host, that means offering them something sweet. Ofcourse, the guests would also stop briefly at all the homes of those Nicholas's they knew.
In the U.S., in my grandparent's day, when most of their friends were also from 'the old country', my grandmother would have a big party for my grandfather Nicholas on December 6.
In Greece, children receive gifts on the feast day of St. Basil, on January 1st. He has a reputation as another charitable saint, so he is basically the Greek version of 'Santa Claus'.
I think it is nice that the Slavic tradition involves St. Nicholas' feast day for children, since, after all, here in the West, he is Santa Claus.
I am curious as to how this was reconciled by your parents...does it mean that you cannot still believe in Santa Claus, or does it mean that he comes on Dec. 6 and Dec. 25th?
Thanks!
Alice
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I think it is nice that the Slavic tradition involves his feast day for children, since, after all, here in the West, he is Santa Claus.
I am curious as to how this was reconciled by your parents...does it mean that you cannot still believe in Santa Claus, or does it mean that he comes on Dec. 6 and Dec. 25th? Luckily my oldest is 6 and although I thought she might make the connection this year...I think I will be able to get at least one more year out of her...She is terrified of people in costume and last year she needed to know, so she wouldn't freak out, that I was going to be "St. Nicholas" at both the Holy Trinity Community Gathering and at the new Parish gathering...since then I have explained to her the Historical person of St. Nicholas and the commemoration of this holy bishop...she has not yet, as far as I know, made the connection between St. Nicholas and Santa Claus... Going back to the title of the thread...as a child, the only commemeration of St. Nicholas day was a large dinner at the church with St. Nicholas arriving who distributed candy to all the children as they sat next on the floor in two rows with their shoes in front of them...the candy was left in the shoes by St. Nick as he processed in to the singing of Christmas Carols...I know today, we do this at my parish, and with my former BC community as well as leaving a little chocolate (preferably chocolate gold coins) in my daughters shoes on the morning of December 6th...my parish is old calendar but there's no need to confuse the situation... Chris
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In terms of explaining, the 25th is just kind of a continuation of the 19th. St. Nicholas is the focus. They don't get presents on Christmas itself, i.e. the 7th.
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