December 6 – St. Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE ST. NICHOLAS DAY STEP-BY-STEP

•  Read all about St. Nicholas on St.Nicholas.Org.  Was he a real person?
•  Listen to, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” by Perry Como.
•  Purchase St. Nicholas gifts and traditional gold coins in children’s shoes.
•  Dress like St. Nicholas.
•  Start a Santa Claus puzzle for the season.
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM FOR ST. NICHOLAS DAY

Saint Nicholas Day is a time of celebration for many around the world, as they reflect on the life of a man who has inspired countless people throughout history. While Saint Nicholas passed away on December 6, his legacy lives on through traditions such as gift-giving, storytelling, and feasting that are celebrated each year on his name day. From the Netherlands to Ukraine, people gather with loved ones to honor the selfless acts of kindness that he was known for during his lifetime.

Whether it’s leaving out shoes for Saint Nicholas to fill with treats, or gathering around the table to share a warm meal, this day is a reminder to embrace generosity and compassion towards each other, just as Saint Nicholas did centuries ago. So why not join in the festivities this year and honor the memory of this beloved saint by spreading joy and good cheer in your own community!

ST. NICHOLAS DAY:  A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. NICHOLAS

Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop from Myra in modern-day Turkey who was known for his extraordinary acts of kindness and generosity. One of the most famous stories associated with him is the time he secretly gave three sisters a dowry so that they could get married. This act of charity earned him the reputation of being a patron saint of children, sailors, and the poor. Today, his legacy lives on in many countries around the world as he continues to inspire people to spread joy and compassion to those around them.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE ST. NICHOLAS DAY

1. Decorate a Shoe: Invite children to decorate their shoes or boots to leave out for St. Nicholas to fill with treats overnight.
2. Write Letters to St. Nicholas: Encourage kids to write letters to St. Nicholas, sharing their wishes, accomplishments, and gratitude.
3. Attend a St. Nicholas Parade: Participate in or watch a festive parade celebrating St. Nicholas, featuring floats, music, and performers.
4. Bake St. Nicholas Cookies: Bake cookies in the shape of St. Nicholas and decorate them with icing and candies for a delicious treat.
5. Read St. Nicholas Stories: Gather around and read stories about St. Nicholas’s life, deeds, and the spirit of giving.
6. Create St. Nicholas Crafts: Engage in crafting activities such as making paper lanterns, ornaments, or puppets depicting St. Nicholas.
7. Watch St. Nicholas Movies: Enjoy family-friendly movies or animated specials featuring St. Nicholas and his adventures.
8. Donate Toys or Clothes: Encourage children to select gently used toys or clothes to donate to those in need in honor of St. Nicholas’s generosity.
9. Attend a St. Nicholas Day Mass or Service: Participate in a special church service or Mass dedicated to St. Nicholas and his legacy.
10. Make St. Nicholas Crowns or Hats: Craft crowns or hats adorned with symbols of St. Nicholas, such as mitres or bishop hats.
11. Host a St. Nicholas Trivia Game: Organize a trivia game about St. Nicholas’s life, legends, and traditions for some educational fun.
12. Visit a St. Nicholas Shrine or Statue: Take a trip to a local shrine or statue dedicated to St. Nicholas and learn more about his legacy.
13. Create a St. Nicholas Day Advent Calendar: Make an advent calendar featuring daily acts of kindness or charitable deeds inspired by St. Nicholas.
14. Sing St. Nicholas Songs: Sing traditional songs or carols dedicated to St. Nicholas, spreading joy and merriment.
15. Host a St. Nicholas Feast: Prepare a special feast featuring traditional foods associated with St. Nicholas Day, such as gingerbread, fruitcake, or mulled wine.
16. Plant St. Nicholas Day Flowers: Plant flowers associated with St. Nicholas, such as poinsettias or Christmas roses, as a symbol of renewal and hope.
17. Create St. Nicholas Day Cards: Design and decorate homemade cards to send to friends and family, spreading the spirit of St. Nicholas’s generosity.
18. Watch a Puppet Show: Attend a puppet show featuring St. Nicholas as the main character, providing entertainment and storytelling.
19. Have a St. Nicholas Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt with clues leading to hidden treats or surprises, inspired by St. Nicholas’s secret gift-giving.
20. Attend a St. Nicholas Charity Event: Participate in or volunteer at a charity event or fundraiser dedicated to helping those in need, embodying the spirit of St. Nicholas.
21. Create St. Nicholas Day Lanterns: Make lanterns decorated with images of St. Nicholas or scenes from his life, then light them for a festive glow.
22. Organize a St. Nicholas Day Play: Put on a play or skit retelling the story of St. Nicholas and his acts of kindness and generosity.
23. Host a St. Nicholas Day Storytime: Gather children for a storytelling session featuring tales of St. Nicholas and his miraculous deeds.
24. Create St. Nicholas Day Coloring Pages: Design coloring pages featuring St. Nicholas and distribute them for children to color and enjoy.
25. Play St. Nicholas Day Bingo: Play a game of bingo with St. Nicholas-themed cards, featuring symbols like boots, coins, and the saint himself, for a fun-filled activity.
26.  St. Nicholas Treasure Hunt: Organize a treasure hunt with clues leading to hidden treats or small gifts, inspired by St. Nicholas’s tradition of secret gift-giving.
27. Pin the Miter on St. Nicholas: Play a variation of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” where blindfolded players try to pin a paper miter onto a picture of St. Nicholas.
28. St. Nicholas Memory Game: Create a memory game featuring pairs of cards with images related to St. Nicholas’s life, miracles, or symbols.
29. St. Nicholas Bingo: Play a game of bingo using cards with St. Nicholas-themed pictures or symbols, such as boots, coins, or the saint himself.
30. St. Nicholas Charades: Act out words or phrases related to St. Nicholas, his legends, or the holiday traditions associated with him, for a fun game of charades.
31. St. Nicholas Trivia Challenge: Test your knowledge of St. Nicholas’s life, legends, and traditions with a trivia game suitable for both children and adults.
32. St. Nicholas Puzzle Race: Race against each other or the clock to complete St. Nicholas-themed puzzles, such as jigsaw puzzles or crossword puzzles.
33. St. Nicholas Relay Race: Organize a relay race with teams competing in various challenges inspired by St. Nicholas’s acts of kindness and generosity.
34. St. Nicholas Storytelling Circle: Sit in a circle and take turns telling stories about St. Nicholas, his miracles, and his legacy of compassion and giving.
35. St. Nicholas Freeze Dance: Dance to festive music while a designated “St. Nicholas” periodically calls out “freeze,” prompting everyone to stop moving until the music resumes.
36. St. Nicholas Sack Race: Have a sack race with participants hopping towards the finish line while holding a sack filled with small gifts or treats.
37. St. Nicholas Scavenger Hunt: Send participants on a scavenger hunt to find items related to St. Nicholas, such as coins, candy canes, or miniature boots.
38. St. Nicholas Coloring Contest: Provide coloring sheets featuring images of St. Nicholas and host a coloring contest to see who can create the most vibrant and creative artwork.
39. St. Nicholas Ring Toss: Set up a ring toss game using rings decorated with St. Nicholas symbols, aiming to land them on designated targets for points.
40. St. Nicholas Balloon Pop: Fill balloons with small treats or notes and let participants pop them to reveal the surprises inside, reminiscent of St. Nicholas’s secret gift-giving.
41. St. Nicholas Duck Pond: Set up a “duck pond” with floating toys or pictures of St. Nicholas symbols, and participants can “fish” for prizes with a fishing rod or net.
42. St. Nicholas Musical Chairs: Play a game of musical chairs with holiday-themed music, removing chairs each round until one player remains as the winner.
43. St. Nicholas Bean Bag Toss: Create a bean bag toss game using targets decorated with images of St. Nicholas, challenging players to aim for the center for maximum points.
44. St. Nicholas Word Search: Challenge participants to find St. Nicholas-themed words hidden in a word search puzzle, providing entertainment and cognitive stimulation.
45. St. Nicholas Guessing Game: Place small objects related to St. Nicholas in a bag or box, and participants can take turns guessing what’s inside by touch alone.
46. St. Nicholas Limbo: Play a game of limbo with a St. Nicholas twist, using a limbo stick decorated with symbols of the saint and holiday.
47. St. Nicholas Bean Bag Race: Have a relay race where participants carry bean bags on their heads or balance them on spoons, navigating through an obstacle course.
48. St. Nicholas Target Shooting: Set up targets with St. Nicholas symbols, and participants can take turns shooting darts, Nerf guns, or bean bags to hit the targets.
49. St. Nicholas Pinata Bash: Fill a pinata shaped like St. Nicholas with candies and treats, and let participants take turns trying to break it open.
50. St. Nicholas Egg-and-Spoon Race: Hold an egg-and-spoon race, but instead of eggs, use small figurines or symbols representing St. Nicholas, challenging participants to balance them on spoons while racing to the finish line.
51.  St. Nicholas Paper Lanterns: Create paper lanterns adorned with images of St. Nicholas, stars, and other festive designs to illuminate your home on St. Nicholas Day.
52. St. Nicholas Sock Puppets: Make sock puppets in the likeness of St. Nicholas, complete with a bishop’s miter and robes, for a fun and interactive craft.
53. St. Nicholas Paper Bag Puppets: Use paper bags to create puppets of St. Nicholas, decorating them with markers, yarn, and construction paper to bring the saint to life.
54. St. Nicholas Clothespin Dolls: Craft clothespin dolls representing St. Nicholas, painting the clothespins to resemble his robes and adding facial features with markers or paint.
55. St. Nicholas Gingerbread House: Build and decorate a gingerbread house with St. Nicholas-themed decorations, such as candy canes, chocolate coins, and a fondant miter.
56. St. Nicholas Ornament Wreath: Make a wreath using St. Nicholas-themed ornaments, arranging them in a circular pattern to create a festive decoration for your door or wall.
57. St. Nicholas Salt Dough Ornaments: Create ornaments shaped like St. Nicholas, stars, and other holiday symbols using salt dough, then paint and decorate them to hang on your Christmas tree.
58. St. Nicholas Wooden Spoon Dolls: Transform wooden spoons into dolls resembling St. Nicholas, painting the handles as his robes and adding facial features with paint or markers.
59. St. Nicholas Pinecone Decorations: Collect pinecones and decorate them with paint, glitter, and small trinkets to resemble St. Nicholas, creating charming holiday decorations for your home.
60. St. Nicholas Felt Finger Puppets: Sew or glue together felt pieces to make finger puppets featuring St. Nicholas and other holiday characters for imaginative play.
61. St. Nicholas Clay Pot Crafts: Paint and decorate clay pots to resemble St. Nicholas, filling them with candy or small gifts for a festive and functional decoration.
62. St. Nicholas Paper Plate Masks: Use paper plates to create masks of St. Nicholas, decorating them with paint, markers, and embellishments for imaginative dress-up play.
63. St. Nicholas Pom-Pom Ornaments: Make pom-pom ornaments in the colors of St. Nicholas’s robes, adding embellishments like beads or sequins for extra sparkle.
64. St. Nicholas Paper Quilling Art: Practice paper quilling techniques to create intricate designs featuring St. Nicholas, stars, and other holiday motifs for framed artwork or greeting cards.
65. St. Nicholas Tissue Paper Crafts: Cut and layer tissue paper to make stained glass window decorations featuring St. Nicholas and scenes from his life for a colorful display.
66. St. Nicholas Clay Figurines: Sculpt small figurines of St. Nicholas out of clay, molding and shaping them to resemble the beloved saint for a unique and personalized decoration.
67. St. Nicholas Yarn Dolls: Wrap and knot yarn around cardboard or sticks to form dolls representing St. Nicholas, adding details with markers or fabric scraps for a charming craft.
68. St. Nicholas Ribbon Wands: Create ribbon wands adorned with St. Nicholas-themed ribbons and bells, perfect for dancing and celebrating on St. Nicholas Day.
69. St. Nicholas Wooden Block Decorations: Paint and decorate wooden blocks with images of St. Nicholas, angels, and other holiday symbols to stack and display as festive decorations.
70. St. Nicholas Beaded Ornaments: String beads onto wire or thread to make ornaments featuring St. Nicholas, crosses, and other religious symbols for a sparkling holiday display.
71. St. Nicholas Paper Chain Garland: Cut and assemble paper chains featuring St. Nicholas, stars, and other holiday motifs to drape around your home as festive decorations.
72. St. Nicholas Recycled Card Crafts: Upcycle old greeting cards into new decorations featuring St. Nicholas, cutting out images and arranging them into collages or ornaments.
73. St. Nicholas Clay Candle Holders: Mold and shape clay into candle holders featuring St. Nicholas’s likeness, adding details with paint or carving tools for a unique centerpiece.
74. St. Nicholas Foam Sticker Scenes: Use foam stickers to create scenes depicting St. Nicholas’s life and miracles on paper or cardstock for colorful and interactive crafts.
75. St. Nicholas Fabric Wall Hanging: Sew or glue together fabric pieces to make a wall hanging featuring St. Nicholas, stars, and other holiday symbols for a festive and decorative touch.
76.  Speculoos Cookies: Bake spiced cookies traditionally enjoyed on St. Nicholas Day, often shaped like the saint himself or other festive figures.
77. Chocolate Coins: Serve chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, symbolizing the coins St. Nicholas is said to have given to the needy.
78. St. Nicholas Bread: Bake a sweet bread loaf adorned with icing crosses or sugar glaze in honor of the saint’s feast day.
79. Candy Canes: Offer candy canes as a sweet treat, reminiscent of the bishop’s crozier or staff.
80. Gingerbread Men: Decorate gingerbread men cookies with icing and candies, embodying the festive spirit of St. Nicholas Day.
81. Fruitcake: Enjoy slices of fruitcake, a traditional holiday dessert symbolizing abundance and generosity.
82. St. Nicholas Cupcakes: Bake and decorate cupcakes with St. Nicholas-themed designs, such as mitres, crosses, or robes.
83. Peppernuts (Kruidnoten): Prepare small spiced cookies called “peppernuts” or “kruidnoten,” popular in Dutch and Belgian St. Nicholas Day celebrations.
84. Marzipan Fruits: Serve marzipan fruits shaped and colored to resemble real fruits, representing the bounty of the harvest season.
85. Honey-Nut Cookies: Bake honey and nut cookies, a sweet and wholesome treat often enjoyed during festive occasions.
86. Almond Crescent Cookies: Make crescent-shaped almond cookies dusted with powdered sugar, symbolizing the moon and stars associated with St. Nicholas.
87. St. Nicholas Day Pancakes: Cook pancakes and top them with maple syrup or fruit compote, a simple yet satisfying breakfast to start the day.
88. Cinnamon Rolls: Bake cinnamon rolls with swirls of cinnamon-sugar filling and creamy icing, perfect for indulging on St. Nicholas Day morning.
89. St. Nicholas Day Pies: Bake individual pies or tarts filled with seasonal fruits like apples, berries, or cherries, symbolizing the abundance of the harvest.
90. St. Nicholas Day Donuts: Fry or bake donuts and decorate them with festive colors and sprinkles, making them a delightful treat for the holiday.
91. St. Nicholas Day Muffins: Bake a batch of muffins with flavors like cranberry-orange or pumpkin spice, capturing the essence of the season.
92. Assorted Nuts and Dried Fruits: Offer a variety of nuts and dried fruits in bowls for snacking, symbolizing prosperity and abundance.
93. St. Nicholas Day Biscotti: Bake biscotti flavored with almonds, citrus zest, or spices, perfect for dipping into coffee or hot chocolate.
94. St. Nicholas Day Tartlets: Make miniature tartlets filled with seasonal jams or preserves, showcasing the flavors of the season.
95. St. Nicholas Day Trifle: Layer sponge cake, fruit, and custard in individual glasses to create a festive and delicious trifle dessert.
96. St. Nicholas Day Meringues: Whip up batches of meringue cookies in festive shapes and colors, light and airy treats to enjoy with hot beverages.
97. St. Nicholas Day Hot Chocolate: Prepare rich and creamy hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and sprinkles, a comforting beverage for the holiday.
98. St. Nicholas Day Apple Strudel: Bake flaky apple strudel filled with cinnamon-spiced apples and raisins, a delightful pastry for dessert or tea time.
99. St. Nicholas Day Pudding: Make a warm and comforting pudding flavored with seasonal spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, a classic dessert for the holiday.
100. St. Nicholas Day Fruit Platter: Arrange a colorful fruit platter with seasonal fruits like oranges, pears, and grapes, offering a refreshing and healthy option for celebrating the day.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate St. Nicholas Day?  Please share them!