A Slice of Smith Life: Celebrating St. Nicholas Feast Day 2013!

Celebrating St. Nicholas Feast Day 2013!

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There are so many fun and festive feast days in the Church, especially during Advent season, which is one of the many reasons I LOVE being Catholic! I didn't necessarily celebrate many feast days as a child, so sharing these faith-filled and fun days with my own children is well,...so.much.FUN!

You can read our Advent traditions HERE, and each year during Advent we remember good 'ole Saint Nicholas on Dec. 6!

Yesterday some of our homeschool families got together for Mass then we had St. Nicholas visit us where he read a book about himself titled Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend and then handed out gold chocolate coins. Next year, we may make Saint Nicholas look more like the Bishop from Myra vs. Santa Claus :) Our families also brought gently used coats/clothes that our priest will give to families he knows that are in need. Each year we do this as a way to imitate the loving and giving spirit of Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend

Even our priest enjoyed the St. Nicholas activities with our kids!

Then it was cookie decorating time and lunch food!
Each family brought sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles to share. I made shortbread cookies and used my St. Nick cookie stamp that you can find HERE. I didn't take a picture of my shortbread cookies, but my daughter and I both agreed that the cookies don't always turn out as nice as the picture shows :)

This morning Saint Nicholas dropped some goodies off in our shoes and our traveling (wise) Men on a Mission (to find Baby Jesus by the Epiphany) stopped in to see what St. Nicholas brought. My children received the Playmobil St. Nick and angel last year.

Gold chocolate coins and candy canes

And if you want to think ahead a few months, you can use any extra candy canes for a future Valentine's card for a sweetie that I blogged about HERE.

Then today our family traveled about 2 hours to attend an annual Homeschool Mass with our Bishop. It was a beautiful Mass with many homeschool families! Our Bishop gave each family a holy card with Saint Nicholas and a Holy Family holy water font for our homes.

And our Cupcake #5 got in a little visit with her Godmother and her 5 children. Here I am in the middle with our daughter's Godmother and I'm holding my friend's daughter.

For more information about Saint Nicholas, visit St. Nicholas Center HERE.

ST. NICHOLAS PRAYER

Loving God, we thank you for
      the example of St Nicholas,
      who fed the hungry,
      brought hope to the imprisoned,
      gave comfort to the lost,
      and taught the truth to all.
May we strive to imitate him
      by putting you first in all we do.
Give us the courage, love and strength
      of St Nicholas, so that, like him,
      we may serve you through loving
      our brothers and sisters. Amen.

—by Amy Welborn