St Nicholas Day

When: Every year on December 6

Nicholas was a bishop in what is now Turkey, about 1,700 years ago. He is remembered for kindness to the poor and for secret gifts. Over time his story grew into the tradition of gift-giving and, in other ways, into Santa Claus.

Where it came from

Nicholas was bishop of Myra, a port city in what is now Turkey, in the 300s. We know very little for sure about his life. The stories told about him were written down long after he died.

The best-known story says he secretly gave bags of gold to a poor man with three daughters, so that the daughters would not have to be sold into servitude. In the story the gold landed in stockings or shoes left by the fire. Other stories say he protected sailors. This is why he became the patron saint of sailors and children.

In 1087, sailors from Bari, Italy, brought relics said to be Nicholas's to their city. His fame spread all over Europe. Dutch settlers carried “Sinterklaas” to North America, and in time the American Santa Claus grew from this saint and from other winter customs.

How it is kept around the world

• The Netherlands and Belgium. On the evening of December 5, children set out shoes with a carrot for the saint's horse. In the morning they find sweets and small gifts.
• Germany and Austria. Children polish their boots and find nuts, oranges and chocolate in them on December 6. In some Alpine places a scary figure called Krampus walks with Nicholas. Many families today choose a gentler version.
• Greece and Orthodox countries. Nicholas is the patron of sailors, so ships and ports remember him. Churches hold services on his day.
• Italy. In Bari, a big festival in May remembers the arrival of his relics.
• Russia and the Slavic lands. St Nicholas is one of the most loved saints. Churches using the older Julian calendar keep his day on December 19.

Christians differ

Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Christians honour Nicholas as a saint. In some Protestant lands, after the Reformation, gift-giving moved from his day to Christmas, with the “Christkind”, the Christ Child, as the giver. Some Christians prefer not to bring Santa Claus into the story of Christmas, while others see Santa and St Nicholas as one way of teaching generosity.

Do it together

Ages 0 to 2

• Put a small shoe by the door and put a soft toy in it for a pretend visit.
• Say “thank you” for a gift, even a small one.

Ages 3 to 5

• Put a little treat in a neighbour's shoe or on their step with a kind note.
• Draw St Nicholas helping someone.

Ages 6 to 8

• Give in secret: leave a gift or kind card for someone without saying who it is from.
• Find Turkey and Myra on a map.

Ages 9 to 12

• Collect coins or gifts for a food bank, and talk about why Nicholas helped people quietly.
• Read two different stories about Nicholas. Which parts seem like legends?

Ages 13 to 17

• Read about how Santa Claus grew out of Nicholas and other customs. What was kept, what was changed, and why?
• Plan a secret act of generosity for someone who is lonely.

A short prayer

God, thank you for people who give quietly and kindly. Help us to notice those in need and to share what we have. Amen.

Mark as done

Where this comes from

• Adam C. English, The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The True Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra (Baylor University Press, 2012)
• Gerry Bowler, Santa Claus: A Biography (McClelland & Stewart, 2005)
• F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2005), entry “Nicholas, St”

Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. Please read it before sharing it with a child.