Holiday Traditions: St. Nicholas

My mother grew up in Germany with the tradition of St. Nicholas. Now surprisingly enough I just found out in the last few years that this is kind of a big Catholic tradition.....I always grew up thinking it was just a German thing.

The story is that on December 5th (St. Nicholas Eve) children are supposed to leave letters in their shoes for St Nicholas expressing their Christmas wishes, and he picks them up and leaves you a small surprise in return for your letter. My mother tells me the German tradition is to leave a piece of candy and fruit. If you were currently on the naughty list you would be left with coal to warn you to straighten up before Christmas arrives.

When we were growing up we were the only children I knew who did this tradition hence the reason I assumed it was German. Oddly enough we always insisted on this tradition even through high school and college when we were old enough to know better. I am pretty sure it is just because my sister, brother and I look for any reason to get presents.

When John Mark and I moved to our current town that has a large Catholic population, and it is just common for everyone to celebrate St. Nicholas Day, although some of my friends think it is funny that I do this with my girls and we are Methodist.