studentsineurope

Saint Nicholas Day

Not only for kids: Adults enjoying the St. Nicholas Day festivities in Croatia

Happy St. Nicholas Day! Today is the day when many children around Europe will wake up to find their shoes filled with tiny gifts and sweets. A tradition that varies from country to country, children are told to leave their shoes near the fireplace, outside the front door, or even on the windowsill, so that St. Nicolas will fill them with them with treats. In some countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, Saint Nicholas’ Eve is still more important than Christmas, as it the primary day to pass out gifts.

A day celebrating the patron saint of children and sailors, because of his supposed secret gift giving; Saint Nicholas became the model of the modern day Santa Clause (derived from the Dutch word, Sinterklaas). What is now usually a day of festivities for children, it is not unusual to stumble across a celebration in the streets of cities or villages, where music is blaring and children are dancing.

Throughout the years in the highly Catholic regions of Europe, Saint Nicholas was known to induce fear into young children, as there was often the threat of a punishment for those children that misbehaved. These threats ranged from Saint Nicholas putting bad children in a sack and taking them into the dark forest or throwing them into the river to the most common act of beating children with a rod.

Nowadays, the festivities tend to be a little more liberal. With the inclusion of clowns, music, and performances, a lot of celebrations now resemble street fairs. A place where parents gather with their children, the gift of giving is still at the heart of the celebration, as kids can be seen generously sharing their special treats with one another.

Here are a few common American Christmas customs/beliefs that have evolved from the legends of Saint Nicholas:

Stockings – It is said that Saint Nicholas saved three young girls from going into slavery buy paying their dowry. Knowing the father of the girls would not accept charity; Saint Nicholas snuck into the house and found the stockings of the girls drying above the mantel. He left gold coins (often depicted as gold balls), in the stockings and the girls were able to get married.

Tangerines – The aforementioned gold balls were often symbolized by oranges or other fruits. This is why placing a tangerine in a stocking became popular. Seeing as how in medieval times, tangerines and oranges most often came from Spain, this would also be the reason behind the belief that the Dutch Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain.

Chimney – When Saint Nicholas snuck in to pay the dowries of the three young maidens, he is said to have done so by entering the house through the chimney.

Candy Canes – Candy versions of a crosier, the staff that was utilized by bishop or heads of the church. It was shaped like a shepherd’s crook, showing the bishop was a shepherd caring and tending to his people.

Secret gift giving at night – Saint Nicholas helped the poor, and many people suspected he used the large inheritance left to him by his wealthy parents. He gave in secret and at night, with the hope that the mysterious donations would make people give thanks to God. After his death, people continued to give anonymously to the poor, attributing the donations to that of Saint Nicholas.