In many places St. Nicholas is the main gift giver. His feast day, St. Nicholas Day, is December 6, which falls early in the Advent season. Some places he arrives in the middle of November and moves about the countryside, visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. Other places he comes in the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with children's wish lists. Small treats are left in shoes or stockings so the children will know he has come.

Where St. Nicholas is prominent, his day, not Christmas, is the primary gift giving day. Parties may be held on the eve, December 5th, and shoes or stockings left for St. Nicholas to fill during the night. Children will find treats of small gifts, fruit or nuts, and special Nicholas candies and cookies. St. Nicholas gifts are meant to be shared, not hoarded for oneself.

Customs Around the World

Aruba	Hungary	Poland
Austria	Iceland	Romania
Belgium	Ireland	Russia
Bulgaria	Italy	Serbia
Canada	Lebanon	Slovakia
Croatia	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Czech Republic	Luxembourg	Spain
England (UK)	Republic of Macedonia	Switzerland
France	Malta	Turkey
Georgia	Netherlands	Ukraine
Germany	Netherlands Antilles	United States
Greece	Palestine

St. Nicholas and American Christmas Customs
Waves of European immigrants brought cherished St. Nicholas holiday traditions. How have these influenced today's popular holiday customs in the United States?

Find St Nicholas Churches all over the World