Customs Around the World

  Who Travels with St. Nicholas?

  St. Nicholas & U.S. Christmas Customs

  Boy / Youth Bishops

  Visits from St. Nicholas

In many places St. Nicholas is the main gift giver. His feast day, St. Nicholas Day, is December 6, which falls early in the Advent season. Some places he arrives in the middle of November and moves about the countryside, visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. Other places he comes in the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with children's wish lists. Small treats are left in shoes or stockings so the children will know he has come.

Where St. Nicholas is prominent, his day, not Christmas, is the primary gift giving day. Parties may be held on the eve, December 5th, and shoes or stockings left for St. Nicholas to fill during the night. Children will find treats of small gifts, fruit or nuts, and special Nicholas candies and cookies. St. Nicholas gifts are meant to be shared, not hoarded for oneself.

Customs Around the World

Aruba Hungary Romania

Austria Iceland Russia

Belgium Ireland Serbia

Bulgaria Italy Slovakia

Canada Liechtenstein Slovenia

Croatia Luxembourg Spain

Czech Republic Macedonia, Republic of Switzerland

England (UK) Malta Turkey

France Netherlands Ukraine

Georgia Netherlands Antilles United States

Germany Palestine

Greece Poland

St. Nicholas and American Christmas Customs
Waves of European immigrants brought cherished St. Nicholas holiday traditions. How have these influenced today's popular holiday customs in the United States?

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