Wednesday, December 5, 2007

St. Nicholas Day


Growing up, we always put out our shoes on December 5th for St. Nicholas to come and fill. It's a fun little European tradition that I am passing on to my own children.

Wanna join the fun? It's not too late...
1. Click here and read the legend of St. Nicholas.
2. Have everyone set one shoe by the front door tonight before going to bed. (It always helps to leave a carrot inside for St. Nicholas' horse!)
3. Fill with a few holiday offerings of your choice. At our house, St. Nicholas leaves one candy cane, one orange, a Christmas tree ornament and a package of Christmas "pop rocks"!
4. Eat oranges and pop rocks for breakfast. (I think that's what the Dutch children do...)

Quick! Easy! A holiday tradition the whole family will love!

10 comments:

Bridget said...

what a great idea. I love it. Minus the pop rocks. My kids are still on a sugar high from eating all the extra frosting from our gingerbread house.

Travelin'Oma said...

I'm thrilled that this tradition is still being carried on. The first time we did it was when you were five months old. You left out you tiny red sneaker.

gramakas said...

I think I borrowed this idea from your mom yearssssssssssssss ago. But I tweaked it a bit to solve the problem of my kids changing their minds each and every week about what they wanted Santa to bring them. I did have all the kids leave a shoe by the front door and included a carrot for Santa's reindeers to snack on and the kids letters to Santa with their wish list. I told them that after Santa had picked up their letter that they couldn't change their minds about what they had asked Santa for. Santa left them an ornament, a candy treat and a tiny gift. I started saving the lists/ letters for about the last 7years. I wish I'd have saved them all. They are priceless! It is a great tradition. I hope my kids will continue with it also.

Jill said...

Cute! What a fun idea. I am looking for some fun new traditions to start with my little family. I'll have to try this one out!! Thanks for sharing :)

Cecily R said...

This is just the kind of thing that will make my day a little better (it's been a doosy, let me tell you). THANK YOU!

Hollyween said...

This is a cute idea. Except for the fact that my child would ONLY like the ornament out of all that loot. But I might try it anyway. You are a good mom.

Linsey said...

My parents subscribe to the Christmas Around the World series by National Geographic. I remember reading about this when the book about the Netherlands came. I thought we should do it, but my parents decided we were chock full in the traditions department - so we get our oranges in the toe of our stockings instead. Thanks for the reminder of this, we might have to institute it in our own little nuclear family.

laina kay said...

Love this idea. I've heard of it before (with clogs) but never thought of actually doing it. I love gramakas' idea of putting the kid's lists for santa in the shoes. Brilliant!

Holiday pop rocks?! I've never seen those!! No strange results when combining pop rocks and oranges?!

martha corinna said...

This is such a good idea for a tradition. And one that my children can actually participate in right now. I've tried to implement the traditions of my family into my new family. Catholic Christmas eve seafood chowder didn't go over so well with my 3 and 2 year old last year. My attempted reading of A Christmas Carol (I'm a Dickens junkie) failed before the end of the first page. The shoes I think we can do. Thanks.

Megan said...

Great idea. I love it and will plan to do this next year as I missed it this year. So cute! I love hearing about other people's traditions.

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