St. Nicholas Celebration

for Church, School, Diocese, or Other Group

A comprehensive all-day event with activities, stories, lunch, a special visitor (!), and a closing festive Eucharist. Participants bring specified items to aid those in need, thus carrying out St. Nicholas spirit. Many ideas to pick and choose to make your own special celebration. Links to resources below.

Schedule

10:00 am Arrival

Deposit books, food, new toys—whatever has been requested to help others
Important for the spirit of St. Nicholas
Individual greeting and making name tags

10:10 Welcome

Video or PowerPoint
Song: Jolly Old St. Nicholas, traditional tune, stanza 1
Sing several times so it can be sung to bring St. Nicholas in later

Jolly old St. Nicholas
On this happy day
You bring joy and happiness,
Hear us as we say,
Teach us how to be like you
Loving, showing care;
Sharing gifts, we celebrate
Joy beyond compare.

10:25 Activity Stations
12:00 noon Lunch
12:30 Activity Stations continue, if needed
1:00 Special Visit: Song and Entry
2:00 St. Nicholas Festival Eucharist

Activity Stations

Cut and Paste St. Nicholas
A simple craft, make either whole figure or just head

St. Nicholas Coloring Pictures
Choose from 25 to print

Miter-Folding
Make both small miters and miters big enough to wear!

St. Nicholas Rubbings
Three designs

St. Nicholas Puzzles
Four strip puzzles, available in our shop or make your own

How to be a St. Nicholas
Talk about being a St. Nicholas—a helper for others

Giant St. Nicholas Coloring Poster 

Lunch

Games

St. Nicholas Coin Toss
Toss money bags into the chimney——chocolate coins are the prize!

Roll for St. Nicholas
Draw St. Nicholas with the roll of a die

St. Nicholas Visit

Sing the St. Nicholas song to beckon St. Nicholas to appear. The good saint tells his story and talks with each child as he gives out special little treats

Treats

Simple treat bags filled with little St. Nicholas gifts—some candy, some information, and more.

St. Nicholas Festival Eucharist

A special all-ages liturgy

Room Set-up

Table with name tags and markers
Table for requested donations (books, toys, food, etc.)
Activity stations ready
AV equipment, as needed
Lunch preparation
“Bishop’s” Chair for St. Nicholas visit
Treat basket

Resources

Activities

Simple Cut-and-Paste St. Nicholas
Coloring Pages to print
Miter-folding
Rubbings from St. Nicholas Center Activity Kit
St. Nicholas Puzzles to make, also in in our shop
Be a Helper Like St. Nicholas cards to print
Giant St. Nicholas Coloring Poster

Games

St. Nicholas Coin Toss
Roll for St. Nicholas

AV Resources

PowerPoint: An Introduction to Saint Nicholas
PowerPoint: Now We Call Him Santa Claus
Video: St. Nicholas, three minute introductory video, St. Nicholas Activity Kit

Eucharist

St. Nicholas Festival Eucharist

Other

Treat Bags, filled with inexpensive St. Nicholas items
St. Nicholas Prayer Cards, in our shop
Be a St. Nicholas Helper cards to print
St. Nicholas information cards to print
Stickers to print for St. Nicholas chocolate coins
St. Nicholas stickers, in our shop
St. Nicholas buttons
Small candy croziers (candy canes)
St. Nicholas Napkins, in our shop
St. Nicholas Center Display Kit (wall panels)
St. Nicholas Center Activity Kit (Video, rubbings, puzzles, miter-folding)
Ready-to-Use St. Nicholas Publicity Materials, Word files to personalize
PDFs to print—signs and instructions for tables; print on heavy cover stock
Activity Station Table signs stand up with 2 5-inch easel backs
Simple Cut and Paste St. Nicholas
Rubbings
St. Nicholas Coin Toss
Instructions to print for miter-folding and Roll for St. Nicholas are on their webpages

Photos by C. Myers, the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan, Grace Episcopal Church, Holland, Michigan, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan.