In many countries around the world, St. Nicholas, not Santa brings gifts. St. Nicholas Day is December 6th, which falls early in Advent. In some countries he arrives mid November and travels around the country visiting homes and schools to find out who has been “naughty and nice." In other countries he arrives in the night on a donkey or horse to find that people have left carrots and hay for the animal, as well as the wish lists of children. If the children have been good, he leaves small treats in shoes or stockings to let them know that he’s been there.
In the countries where St. Nicholas visits, his day, not Christmas is the day when gifts are given. Small gifts, fruit and nuts are left and are meant to be shared, not kept to oneself.
Austria: St. Nicholas visits Austria on his feast day, which is a separate holiday from Christmas. In some areas he visits on St. Nicholas Eve. In others, he comes on December 6th. He dresses in long, flowing robes and a miter and carries a bishop’s gold staff, called a crozier. Angels escort him on his visits and throughout the year they record children’s behavior in a book.
Children in Austria leave shoes outside bedroom doors and on windowsills in the same manner that American children hang stockings. St. Nicholas fills them with delicacies such as decorated cookies, chocolate, bread and marzipan, as well as fruit, nuts and prune people.
Belgium: In Flanders, the Dutch-speaking area of Belgium, parades greet St. Nicholas with bands and banners. He and his assistant, Black Peter, arrive by boat, train or horseback in November to prepare for St. Nicholas Day. The season of St. Nicholas is a children’s festival and December 6th is a special day for them, rather than for the entire family. St. Nicholas visits homes, schools and other places where children gather, checks his book to find out how the children have behaved during the year and sits on his throne in department stores where children line up to greet him.
On St. Nicholas Eve, children set their shoes or small baskets beside the heart or outside the door and fill them with carrots, sugar cubes and turnips for St. Nicholas’ horse. It is believed that St. Nicholas rides his horse over rooftops and drops gifts down the chimneys. He fills the shoes and baskets with oranges, chocolate, cookies and small gifts.
Canada: Immigrants brought many treasured traditions with them from their homelands when they came to Canada. Ukrainian Christmas begins on St. Nicholas Day and the saint visits parishes and schools accompanied by a host of angels. The children sing and St. Nicholas presents them with small gifts. On Christmas Eve, everyone fasts to honor the hardships that Mary and Joseph experienced during their trip to Bethlehem.
England: Parishes in England celebrate St. Nicholas Day with a Patronal Feast. The saint visits churches on the Sunday that falls closest to December 6th and explains who he is and why his memory is celebrated. This is a time of collecting clothes, food, gifts and money for the underprivileged.
France: St. Nicholas visits mainly in the Alsace and Lorraine regions of France and his donkey carries baskets filled with gifts and goodies for the children. The entire family prepares for his arrival and grandpa tells stories about him. The most popular is the story of three children who were attacked and held captive by an evil butcher. Saint Nicholas intervened and helped the children return safely to their families. Because of this, he was named protector of children.
On St. Nicholas Eve, French children place their shoes by the chimney, sing a song for St. Nicholas and go to bed. In the morning when they awaken, the shoes are full of treats, such as chocolate and cookies. Each child finds a twig tied with a ribbon that represents the times when they have misbehaved.
Germany: In Germany, St. Nicholas comes dressed in flowing robes, has a long white beard, wears a miter and carries a staff. Houses are cleaned from top to bottom in anticipation of his arrival. Children polish boots and shoes to fill with carrots and other food for St. Nicholas’ donkey or horse on St. Nicholas Eve. The shoes are set under beds and on windowsills accompanied by a letter in hopes that they will be overflowing with gifts and goodies the next morning. If children have been extremely naughty, they may find their shoes full of coal, potatoes and twigs.
Iceland: St. Nicholas is the patron saint of seafarers and it’s believed that he brought the Vikings from the Norman areas of England. In the 12th century a law was passed that required everyone to fast on St. Nicholas Eve. In the 1930’s, Santa Claus was introduced to Iceland. Today, both traditions are celebrated.
Romania: Boots and shoes are polished and set out on St. Nicholas Eve. Both adults and children are given presents and treats. If a person has displayed inappropriate behavior, St. Nicholas may place a rod in that person’s boot. On St. Nicholas Day, gifts are given to children, friends and the needy.
United States: Some churches, especially those with a Dutch heritage, have St. Nicholas festivals where the saint appears to greet children. St. Nicholas appears in cities and towns that were founded by Dutch settlers, accompanied by Black Peter. St. Nicholas’ helpers, known as Piets, throw candy to spectators along a parade route. When the parade is over, he greets children and gives them treats.
St. Nicholas festivals always take place in Pella and Orange County, Iowa, Holland, Michigan and New Ulm, Wisconsin to name a few.
If you wish to delve deeper into the history and traditions of St. Nicholas, visit our local library or search online. There’s a large amount of interesting information available about a huge number of countries in the world that celebrate St. Nicholas Day.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
In many countries around the world, St. Nicholas, not Santa brings gifts. St. Nicholas Day is December 6th, which falls early in Advent. In some countries he arrives mid November and travels around the country visiting homes and schools to find out who has been “naughty and nice." In other countries he arrives in the night on a donkey or horse to find that people have left carrots and hay for the animal, as well as the wish lists of children. If the children have been good, he leaves small treats in shoes or stockings to let them know that he’s been there. 
