I am sure you are wondering why on earth would one not want to celebrate Christmas with Santa? Our family doesn’t have Santa Claus at Christmas because we celebrate Saint Nicholas on his feast day- December 6th.
Who was Saint Nicholas?
Saint Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in a village called Patara in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). His parents were wealthy Christians who died during an epidemic while St. Nicholas was still young. He received the whole of his parents’ inheritance as he was an only child. Nicholas spent all of this wealth on those in need.
He became Bishop of Myra. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, he was exiled and imprisoned for his faith. He died in A.D. 345. His relics, initially found at his grave, release liquid yearly that smells like rose water. The liquid continues to form and is said to have miraculous healing properties to this day! He is the patron saint of children, travelers, sailors, bridges and grooms, and more!
Saint Nicholas Prayer
Here is a short prayer for his intercession:
O good St. Nicholas,
you who are the joy of the children,
put in my heart the spirit of childhood,
which the gospel speaks, and teach me to seed happiness around me.
You, whose feast prepares us for Christmas,
open my faith to the mystery of God made man.
You good bishop and shepherd,
help me to find my place in the Church
and inspire the Church to be faithful to the Gospel.
O good Saint Nicholas, patron of children, sailors and the helpless,
watch over those who pray to Jesus, your Lord and theirs,
as well as over those who humble themselves before you.
Bring us all in reverence to the Holy Child of Bethlehem,
when true joy and peace are found. Amen.
Catholic Feast Day of St Nicholas Traditions
Saint Nicholas’ feast day is celebrated on December 6th (for feast day crafts and activity ideas check out catholicicing.com!). The tradition of putting gold coins and oranges in stockings/shoes came from a story of a man and his three daughters. The man was very poor and did not have a dowry for his daughters. Since they were unlikely to marry, he was ready to sell them into slavery.
Nicholas heard of this tragic news and, in the night, delivered a sac of gold to the family. The sac contained enough for one daughter’s dowry. This was repeated two more evenings. It is said that the sacs were thrown in shoes or stockings that were left by the fire to dry out overnight. Thus the tradition was born of shoes left out hoping to receive gifts from Saint Nicholas.
Parents place chocolate golden coins and small gifts in stockings overnight to carry on the tradition. In a variation of the story, St. Nicholas left golden balls, which gave rise to another custom of placing oranges/satsumas/clementines, representing these balls, into shoes.
Teaching your children about Saint Nicholas, not Santa
We teach our oldest daughter (our other daughter is too young to understand Santa) that Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas. She understands that we as Catholics celebrate early and that Saint Nicholas does not come again on Christmas. We are clear that other people use the word Santa Claus instead of Saint Nicholas. Since Saint Nicholas was very real, we do not have to worry about if Santa is made up.
Our daughter knows the saints are there to intercede for us in the present day, making it an easier concept for her to understand. She knows that the Mall Santas and the North Pole displays are just make-believe because there is only one Saint Nick. We do not tell her that Santa lives in the North Pole but rather that Saint Nicholas is in Heaven.
We teach that some people believe he lives in the North Pole and not to correct them. If anyone the child interacts with questions her about Santa, the disconnect would be simply that he comes earlier in December. To which she can reply sometimes he comes earlier in Catholic homes.
Catholic take on Saint Nicholas and Santa
Overnight, before December 6th, we follow the custom of putting chocolate coins and small gifts (usually books) into the kids’ slippers which they have left on the mantle. Though our older daughter understands that Saint Nicholas is in Heaven, it gives her excitement that somehow overnight these gifts appear. When our children are older, it will be an easy transition to making clear that Saint Nicholas doesn’t bring presents, Mom and Dad do, in his honor. It won’t be an earth-shattering realization that Santa doesn’t exist.
If you read my guide to advent, you probably already know that we like to be partially decorated on the first day of Advent. We have candles, wreaths, an unlit Christmas tree without ornaments, and miscellaneous seasonal decorations. Adding the shoes on the hearth of the already picturesque fireplace/mantle adds to the anticipation of Christmas.
We like to have Saint Nicholas deliver the presents on his Feast Day so that we can focus on Christ for the true meaning of Christmas. After all, Christmas is the Solemnity of the Nativity, not the feast day of Saint Nicholas.
We hope that this simplified method will avoid confusion for our children, and yours! It will help your children when interacting with other children who believe in Santa only. Lastly, you are teaching them about a Saint and not a fantasy character!
Get those gold coins ahead of time (and whatever gifts you choose) and don’t forget to have the kiddos put out their shoes or stockings on December 5th before bed.
Do you have other traditions for Saint Nicholas Day? – drop a note in the comments.
