Saint Nicholas Day
Early December holiday
Saint Nicholas Day is a Christian feast day celebrated on December 6th (or December 5th eve) honoring the 4th-century bishop known for secret gift-giving.
Children traditionally receive small presents, candy, or coins in shoes or stockings left out the night before.
The holiday is especially popular in European countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, where it often overshadows Christmas gift-giving: The kids put out their shoes for Saint Nicholas Day.
- SinterklaasDutch winter gift-giver
- DecemberYear's final month
- feast daySaint's commemorative holiday
- giftsItems freely given
- gift givingOffering presents to others
naughty list · stockings · chimney · shoes · carrots · oranges · chocolate · Bishop · mitre · staff · Netherlands · Belgium · sweets · children · feast · eve · coins · gold coins
- DecemberChristmas, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, holiday season, end of year
- European HolidaysChristmas, Easter Monday, Good Friday, New Year, Epiphany
- German heritagelederhosen, dirndls, beer gardens, beer garden, Christmas markets
- German traditionsOktoberfest, lederhosen, dirndl, dirndls, beer gardens
- church calendarAdvent, Easter Sunday, Lent, Christmas, Pentecost
- church feastsfeast day, holy day, solemnity, All Souls Day, Christmas Day
Saint Nicholas DayChristmas Day
December 25th celebration
Christmas Eve · Epiphany · New Year's Day · Twelfth Night · Boxing Day
Saint Nicholas DayGood Friday
Crucifixion memorial day
Ash Wednesday · Lent · Easter · All Souls Day · Advent