My 2nd grader came home and placed his shoes by the door and announced its Saint Nick Day. We’ve never done it! I know we don’t have to do anything, but I really don’t mind.
Do your kids leave their shoes out? What gets left in them?
Post by Shreddingbetty on Dec 5, 2018 23:51:28 GMT -5
I think very few people celebrate it her in the US. I am Dutch so that is what I grew up with. Xmas was really about the real reason behind Xmas and we would get one small present Xmas eve after midnight mass (I think that has changed since my dinosaur days because they’re commercializing everything everywhere. st Nicholas was our big gift holiday while we believed. After that we would draw names. And it was only among ourselves, no gift for anyone else outside the immediate family usually. It is really a kids holiday more than anything. I have an 8 y/o DD and she knows about St Nicholas but I have never done the shoe thing here in the US because it makes little sense if it only happens to her and none of her friends. It takes all the magic away so to speak. I usually do buy some of the typical Dutch St nick goodies that we eat for dessert. When I was growing up we would put our shoe in front of the fire place (because his helpers would come through the chimney) from the time st nick arrived in the country until December 6th (I think that is a week or so) and every morning we would have a little something in our shoe, usually candy or a small toy. The morning of December 6th we would wake up to several gifts, like you would here for Xmas. I believed forever and I really liked it a lot I much prefer it over Xmas but it just doesn’t make sense to celebrate it here. I think it is cool that your kid learned about it though. Because it really is where a Santa originated from.
We have family that lives in Wisconsin, and apparently quite a few celebrate it in their particular area. Another local friend posted that her 5 year old did the same thing (different school).
To be honest, I’m not sure if he learned about Saint Nick, or if he just learned from someone that if e left his shoes by the door, he’d wake up to a surprise in them.
Since his brother forgot his shoes, we put their boots on the fireplace with an Orange, some candy, and a hot wheels toy. The elf is sitting in a slipper with one of their Star Wars toys.
This is the first year my oldest has really been into the magic of Christmas. He has ALWAYS doubted Santa, but for some reason, this year, he’s all in. (And it’s genuine and melts my heart.) He’s growing up too quickly, so I’m soaking up what innocence he has left! It’s our first year for the elf, too. Since it’s new, we’re ALL really enjoying it.
Yes, we do it. Lucy is getting a lego set & pony/horse activity book and Ella is getting a Barbie and an animal activity book. We probably go a little overboard.
We already did it this morning. (We live in Asia so our Thursday morning was 12 hours ago.). My kids traditionally get a chocolate orange and some coins in their shoe. This year, it took forever to locate chocolate oranges in Seoul. Finally found them in a little shop in the French part of town. The shipment was hung up trying to clear customs and finally were delivered to the shop at 4 pm yesterday. I rushed over to pick them up and by then I was desperate to not blow yet another tradition for my kids due to Korea. So when the shop keeper told me each piece of chocolate was the equivalent of 13 U.S. bucks, I didn’t even bat an eye. $52 for what amounts to a handful of Hershey’s kisses. My kids better think it’s the best damn chocolate they ever had.
But I digress. Most of the people I know who celebrate St. Nick day are either Catholic or European or both.
We haven't before, but his school does it so I did it this year. They each got a Christmas-themed book. I didn't mention to DS1 (age 3) who brings the gift on St Nick's Day because I cannot keep up with questions on two different gift-giving figures. Or if they are meant to be the same person, I have no idea how to explain why he comes twice.
Growing up we got an ornament for the tree, those giant plastic candy canes filled with Hershey kisses and popcorn balls (mostly for my dad since we all hated them). I put mini candy canes out for my students each year. I grew up in and still live in Wisconsin and teach in a Catholic School. It's pretty big around here.
ETA: we didn't get anything for DS this year since he's only 10.5 months, but will most likely do something next year for him.
I’ve never done this either, but my 5 YO came home and announced the same thing!! Thanks teachers.
So last night my husband went out and got them a candy bar and a fishing bobber- which is what he got as a kid growing up in WI. Both kids seemed excited enough this morning about it.
They woke up this AM & gave all the credit to the elf. LOL!
4speedy, I’m glad you were able to get your chocolate oranges. Your kids may not appreciate it this year, but they’ll look back when they’re older and really appreciate how hard you tried to keep traditions while abroad.
We did this growing up except st nick left treats in our stockings. I grew up catholic and remember everyone making a big deal. I think some of my friends celebrate with their kids, they all are catholic./attending Catholic Church.
Post by cabbagecabbage on Dec 6, 2018 10:30:05 GMT -5
I never heard of it until I moved to the Chicago area. I feel like few people celebrate it but those who do assume everyone does. It's weird. They'll ask what you're doing/giving as if everyone celebrates this obscure (to me) holiday.
Post by puppylove64 on Dec 6, 2018 11:21:59 GMT -5
We did st nicks day growing up at catholic school. We put our shoes in the hall and got peppermints. I taught the kids about it yesterday and they left their shoes out last night. They got Hershey’s kisses.
Post by dutchgirl678 on Dec 6, 2018 11:29:12 GMT -5
I had no idea people in the US did this. I grew up in the Netherlands and we lived there for the past four years. This is our first year back in the US and we let the kids put out their shoe. I got some chocolate from Cost Plus World Market. And last Saturday we saw 'Saint Nicholas' at a gathering with other Dutch people and they got a gift.
We didn't do it this year because my kid is only 15 months, but we will have to do it in the future since all her friends will do it (Wisconsin). We'll probably just do some fuzzy socks and candy.
Most people here do it (Wisconsin!). My family heritage is all German/Polish/Slovak so it was definitely a tradition way back.
The kids have stockings out and they always get an apple, orange, candy canes, and some Christmas chocolates (Santas, snowmen, etc). Many people do nuts, too. Then they also get an assortment of smaller toys and things. Usually a few things don't fit and St. Nick leaves them next to/under the filled stockings. I like it b/c the kids can get and enjoy Christmas things early in the holiday season--craft kits, Christmas socks, books, sticker books, etc.
DW is from Wisconsin and grew up doing it, so we do it with our kids even though we're definitely not in Wisconsin. I have several Facebook friends from MN or WI who have posted on facebook today about doing it with their kids.
ETA: In our house St. Nick brings Chrismas PJs, a Christmas book, and candy.
Post by fancynewbeesly on Dec 9, 2018 7:58:54 GMT -5
We do it here in NJ. I think DD is the only one out of hers that does it. She loves it-even more than Christmas and Hanukkah (which we do both). She gets chocolate and a blind bag toy.
Post by penguingrrl on Dec 9, 2018 13:31:34 GMT -5
I’ve never heard of it! My husband and I were both raised Catholic, but it definitely doesn’t seem to be a thing where we are (NJ), and his parents never did it either, they’re from Louisville, KY.
We did St. Nick's Day growing up. We usually got a small sweet/candy.
We do St. Nick's for my daughter. I picked up the present idea from a friend. St. Nick brings the new Christmas pajamas and an age appropriate holiday book. That way both can be used almost all of December rather than giving them on Christmas eve and only used a short time before being put away