Celebrating St. Nicholas' Feast Day Today

Today, Dec. 6, is always a fun feast day in our house as we remember St. Nicholas with some favorite family traditions. Who was St. Nicholas, the person who is more commonly known as Santa Claus?  Find out more here at the St. Nicholas Center (dot) org. 

It is a tradition in many households to set out your shoes by the fireplace or door so that "St. Nicholas" will leave small treats in the shoes to represent how St. Nicholas long ago showed God's love to others by leaving money for those in need.  We have our shoes ready by our fireplace again this year.  Here are our shoes this year that were filled with chocolate gold coins, candy canes (to represent St. Nicholas' bishop's staff), some fun CDs, and Christmas earrings.  My daughters also set up their doll's shoes too :) My children were excited to receive their treats! 

 My children love this St. Nicholas Playmobil set they received one year.  You can order this set HERE.

Today we will watch one of my children's favorite CCC DVD's titled, "Nicholas, The Boy Who Became Santa".

My family loves the CCC company and their award winning animated films DVD collection.  We have all their Saints and Heroes DVDs and my children watch these short and inspiring stories over and over again! I enjoy watching them too and I'm learning so much about our faith along with my children!  I highly recommend CCC as an excellent resource for teaching our faith to children young and old!

In year's past we have celebrated St. Nicholas' Feast Day by:

Making St. Nicholas cookies

 

 

 Last year our homeschool group got together to celebrate the giving spirit of St. Nicholas by assembling 25 Christmas bags for children who are in poor housing conditions or homeless.
  

 

This year in honor of St. Nicholas our Homeschool group is collecting gently used children and adult coats for those in need since so many people could use our outgrown warm layers rather than our hangers ! :)

It is a blessing to be able to tell my children about St. Nicholas and focus on the sacredness of this joyous season vs. only knowing the secular side of Christmas, which is more about getting vs. giving.

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

Check out how other bloggers celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas by visiting Jessica's post HERE at Catholic Cuisine!

Have a blessed St. Nicholas Feast Day!