Today (06/12/2024) is Saint Nicholas Day. Also known as the Feast of Saint Nicholas, it is a Christian festival typically celebrated by giving gifts and attending church services.
Nicholas of Myra was an early Christian bishop who died on 6 December 346. He was known for his generosity. One particular legend gained him this reputation. An impoverished father was unable to provide funds for the dowries of his three daughters. As a result, the daughters were to be taken into slavery. Nicholas gave the father money to save the daughters from this fate—it is said that Nicholas threw gold coins through the family’s window, which landed in their shoes which were laid out by the fireplace to dry.
During the eleventh century, nuns in France and Belgium began the practice of giving gifts to the poor in Saint Nicholas’ name. Since then, the tradition has been maintained and many still give to charity to mark the occasion.
On 5 December, the Eve of Saint Nicholas Day, many children across Europe leave out their shoes in the hope that they might find small gifts from Saint Nicholas in them the next morning. Chocolate coins are often left on the soles, recalling the legend of Nicholas of Myra’s generosity. Presents are only left for the children who have been good throughout the year, while badly behaved children might expect to find a twig or lump of coal in their shoe.
Saint Nicholas Day is particularly revered in the Netherlands, where Sinterklaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas) often makes public appearances with his helper, Piet. It is believed that they travel by boat from Spain, and his arrival is widely anticipated by children. “Santa Clause”, the American name for Father Christmas, is in fact derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Happy Saint Nicholas Day from everyone at British Online Archives!