Family Tradition in Miinnesota
Alexandria woman's family makes memories on St. Nicholas Day
By Celeste Edenloff, Echo Press. Alexandria, Minnesota
Have you heard about St. Nicholas? No, not the jolly old fat man in the red suit.
St. Nicholas, the bishop of an ancient Greek town called Myra, which is now the present day Turkey. He was born around March 15, 270 and died on Dec. 6, 343.
Among many things, he was known for always leaving small gifts and coins for children in his community. Dec. 6 is St. Nicholas Day and according to Lauren Johnson of Garfield, St. Nicholas Day, also known as The Feast of Saint Nicholas, commemorates the saint, his kindness, and his gift-giving habit.
Johnson answers questions about the holiday that was and still is so important to her family.
Q: How did you celebrate St. Nicholas Day as a child?
A: Our Christmas stockings were always filled on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas Day, not on Christmas Day by Santa Claus as most celebrate. They were filled with things like peanuts, small candies and a small gift. You never saw them get filled. Sometimes they were filled when you woke up in the morning, sometimes during Christmas decorating, sometimes after school. But you always knew they were filled because they were no longer on their stocking hooks but sitting on the floor in front of the hooks. It was always and still is, so magical. Some families will leave shoes out to be filled, and some families will include fruit as a traditional item. My mom is one of eight kids, and it’s something that all my aunts, uncles and cousins celebrate and something my family on my dad’s side adopted growing up also. It’s fun to share these memories with my family.
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Q: Why was this holiday important in your family?
A: For my family, it is a German-Catholic tradition. The stories, legends and traditions come from all over Europe and are celebrated differently depending on what area of the continent you are from. Here, I have found not many know about St. Nicholas Day, who St. Nicholas is and that he’s different from Santa Claus and that he was a real individual. It’s unique and people seem excited about the tradition when I talk about it and often want to figure out how to adopt it into their family with their kids. My family is also deeply rooted in the Catholic faith and Christianity. It’s important that we celebrate different saints and remind ourselves of the people that walked before us.
Q: As an adult with your own family, have you kept the tradition going?
A: This is a tradition I have continued with my husband and my own kids. My kiddos love waking up the morning of Dec. 6 to see what St. Nick brought and left in their stockings while they were sleeping. I love that they get to tell their friends at school and daycare about it and other family members. Since starting work at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, it is also a tradition I have brought to work. Every Dec. 6, when my coworkers and I show up to work, St. Nicholas has been there and left small treats and/or a small gift at each desk. It’s been fun to watch them be excited about St. Nicholas each year, too.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about St. Nicholas Day?
A: I would say, do your own research, ask others about St. Nicholas Day. Search St. Nicholas Day online and who he is and how he is celebrated as there are many stories, versions and traditions. This is just what I’ve learned and experienced over the years. I often refer to the site StNicholasCenter.Org/Who-Is-St-Nicholas. I feel it’s full of great information. Plus, any chance to celebrate a holiday is a win in my book!
Johnson, who was born and raised in Alexandria and is a 2012 Alexandria graduate, works as the marketing coordinator for the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce . Growing up, her family always celebrated St. Nicholas Day and now, with a family of her own, she and husband, Scott, celebrate the day with their two children, Wesley, 5, and Liam, 2.
By Celeste Edenloff, from Echo Press, Alexandria, Minnesota, October 27, 2023. Used by permission.