https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 05:39:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790297 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:55:01 +0000 trixi 2790297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>St Nick went well this morning, he got treats and a little toy in his stocking....He did think it was from St. Nick AND Santa both so I think he gets they are two different people. I just said they are friends :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790227 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 19:48:05 +0000 Ms. RV 2790227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The way we did it growing up was St. Nicholas and Santa are two different people. And if the fact that sometimes Santa is called St. Nick came up, it was just coincidence that they have the same name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790217 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:37:58 +0000 kiddosc 2790217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: From Wikipedia: While feasts of Saint Nicholas are not observed nationally, cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Evansville, Indiana; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fredericksburg, Texas; Newport News, Virginia; St. Louis; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania celebrate St. Nick's Day on a scale similar to the German custom.[14] Although not as widespread as in other countries, some people[citation needed] in the United States celebrate a separate St Nicholas Day by putting their shoes outside their bedroom doors or hanging an empty stocking by the fireplace on the evening of 5 December. St Nicholas then comes during the night. On the morning of 6 December, those people will find their shoes/stockings filled with gifts and sugary treats. Widespread adoption of the tradition has spread among the German, Polish, Belgian and Dutch communities throughout the United States. Americans who celebrate Saint Nicholas Day generally also celebrate Christmas Day (December 25) as a separate holiday. Some of the traditions and rituals of Christmas, such as leaving out a shoe or stocking to be filled, are similar to the traditions of Saint Nicholas Day.</p> <p>We're in southeastern Wisconsin, close to Milwaukee... I grew up here and moved back a few years ago. I never knew until I moved away that not everyone did this. It's absolutely the norm here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790216 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:32:10 +0000 ShootingStar 2790216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: I’ve never even heard of this before! I would’ve said St. Nick and Santa were essentially the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790215 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:23:42 +0000 gotkimchi 2790215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: we live in mke and I don’t think my parents ever said much about st. Nick being different from Santa or anything. My almost 4yo got a st. Nick bag from my mom today and didn’t ask anything about it. I think if they did ask we would say st. Nick is a person who came to peoples house and filled their stockings to be nice and make them happy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790213 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:27:20 +0000 kiddosc 2790213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: It's still very strange to me that St. nick coming to fill stockings in early December isn't a thing most places, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790209 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:21:33 +0000 MamaG 2790209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: @honeybear: Agreed, it was a very secular thing in my experience (I'm not Catholic, but half of my family is). I grew up in the area you are now living in @kiddosc: (I believe) and it's an area that has roots that run deep into Germany/Poland/Slavik countries. There are a lot Catholic practitioners are well. I live in an area now that is also heavily Catholic, but with deep Central America roots. No widespread celebration of St Nick here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790204 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:39:45 +0000 kiddosc 2790204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: St. nick is a secular thing in this area. I have no idea how it came to be that way, but trying to describe what a catholic bishop is much more in depth than I was aiming to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790198 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:56:48 +0000 honeybear 2790198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In our house: Santa = a character in books, movies, etc. St. Nicholas = a Catholic saint whose feast day we celebrate on Dec. 6 with cookies and maybe new shoes (not this year for the shoes, though, because Mom wasn't organized enough for that and his current shoes are fine). His feast day is kind of a mini party in the early part of Advent. So, there's no confusion. But LO is very familiar with the concept of saints and has heard a number of hagiographies. (I haven't told him the St. Nicholas one about the three children and the innkeeper...consider that a head's up if you're looking for stories about St. Nicholas!) I'd never heard of non-Catholics celebrating St. Nicholas' feast day before this thread, but I think that's cool, just make sure he gets credited as a Catholic bishop! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790183 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:55:16 +0000 MamaG 2790183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My celebration of St Nick is different than how it was presented when I was a child. We leave shoes outside our bedroom door. They are shoes that are outgrown. St Nick will take them for someone who needs them and replace them with a new pair. My kids will get a small treat, Christmas PJ's and a new stuffed animal. This year they are getting Christmas underwear as well.</p> <p>My DH doesn't buy into this tradition (he's also Southern, we live in Texas, but I'm from Wisconsin).</p> <p>My oldest is six and she really hasn't challenged the St Nick vs Santa concepts. She's just happy to get more "stuff".</p> <p>Growing up, St Nick did our stockings. We got a huge navel orange and apple. We also got chocolate/candy.</p> <p>St Nick has brought Christmas books to our kids in the past as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790179 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:48:47 +0000 Foodnerd81 2790179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: I did Saint Nicholas day similar to you growing up- on St. Nicholas day we got our stockings filled with fruit, on the kitchen table, then after the fruit was eaten (or just put into a bowl) we put the stockings up for decoration. Then they stayed up for decoration but were not filled again. My dads family was German. DH never heard of St. Nicholas day and they filled stockings on Christmas which is weird to me. </p> <p>So far we have done Christmas pjs in stockings on St. Nicholas day and then we put the stockings up. Then small items might get placed in the stockings on Christmas too. I think of it as the official start of the Christmas season. </p> <p>So far no one has questioned the difference between St. Nick and Santa, but my older one is only four. I can’t remember ever being confused. I just think of it as him delivering the stockings and opening up Christmas season I guess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790176 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:43:18 +0000 kiddosc 2790176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bluemasonjar: I don't remember ever questioning it or having a clear explanation about whether they were different people. E hasn't really questioned it either, but I want to have something ready in case he does! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790173 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:21:33 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2790173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You bring up an interesting point! Since you had the St. Nick tradition growing up did it ever confuse you? I remember hearing about putting out your shoes and him filling them with candy but my family didn't participate so I hadn't even thought about doing it for LO. He is only 2 though and doesn't understand the concept of Santa at all yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790168 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:17:02 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2790168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: I like that exchange idea- toy &amp; letter for stocking treats. </p> <p>An advent calendar could make this easier to explain since you can count down to the 5th for ST Nick and to the 25th for Santa. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790167 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:15:46 +0000 kiddosc 2790167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: As a kid, we only had our stockings filled on St. Nick Day. DH grew up only having his stocking filled on Christmas. Our kids get stockings twice so that we can both incorporate our traditions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790164 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:12:49 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2790164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: ok, thanks for the breakdown. will the stockings be refilled for Christmas Day? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790163 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:12:12 +0000 MaryM 2790163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: To add to giving back, maybe you could have your LO pick out a toy of his own to give to St. Nick to pass on to someone more needy who doesn't have as many toys. He could include that with a letter to Santa. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790161 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:09:02 +0000 kiddosc 2790161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BUNBUN: I like the idea of incorporating giving back. He school is doing a toy drive, so perhaps we will go out tomorrow night and pick up some things as a tie in. </p> <p>@trixi: My husband had never heard of it either but it's the norm where I grew up. I think I'm probably over thinking it and the kids are really just happy to get things twice. </p> <p>@MaryM: I like the idea of maybe having St. Nick carry a letter to santa. My mom suggested he was like one of the elves. We're not religious, but the tradition of St. Nick coming and filling stockings is really pervasive where we live. I grew up in this area and never knew it wasn't something everyone did and they've even talked about it in our public school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790159 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:03:39 +0000 kiddosc 2790159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: They're not related. Krampus is a demon that comes an punishes naughty children. St. Nicholas Day is a tradition in many European countries where St. Nicholas comes the night of Dec. 5 and fills shoes or stockings with treats for children. Where we live has a high German/Polish population and the tradition has carried over. DH is born and raised in Texas though and never heard of St. Nick leaving treats/gifts before he met me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790151 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:50:37 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2790151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is St. Nick related to Krumpus? Apparently, Krumpus will visit children tonight too and do something to the naughty ones.</p> <p>Growing up we had Santa and the way my parents explained I thought they were one in the same. We wrote letter to Santa that my parents delivered to him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790146 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:35:53 +0000 MaryM 2790146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know of families that have children write letters to St. Nick that he'll deliver to Santa. To make it more about the feast day, they include one thing they will do others, one person they will pray for, and then one or two things they hope santa might bring them. </p> <p>Most people I know who celebrate St. Nick sort of tone down the Santa stuff because they'd rather focus on the religious aspects of the holiday and the real saint than the more secular Santa. </p> <p>I'm like to do something with my kids for St. Nick, but I have a feeling it would confuse DH more than anyone else! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790143 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:22:17 +0000 trixi 2790143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to know what everyone is doing too! My husband's family grew up doing St. Nick, but I did not. Last year we did it for our son but he was too little to understand anything except CANDY. This year he talks about Santa non-stop...so I'm wondering how to differentiate, and also give him a heads up there will not be presents under the tree tomorrow! My LO is almost 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790142 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:16:27 +0000 BUNBUN 2790142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following because I plan to introduce him tonight as well! My son't only 13 mo, so he won't get it, but I've been looking for a way to incorporate it into our traditions going forward. I found this website, which has a lot of stories to choose from. <a href="http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/for-kids/" rel="nofollow">http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/for-kids/</a><br /> I think I'm going to play up how St. Nicholas was a real person who had more than enough, so gave some to help others who needed it. It will be a nice way to start talking about giving back, adopting a family for Christmas, etc. I'm just going to put clementines (he loves those) and some Christmas socks in his stocking and do the same for the adults (with chocolate for us!) and see where things go from there!<br /> I'm not sure how Santa Clause will factor in yet...</p> <p>We didn't do this when I was a kid, but I had friends who put out shoes and I love the idea of stretching out the Christmas season and incorporating giving back </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-st-nick-visits-your-house#post-2790128 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 11:54:45 +0000 kiddosc 2790128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do you explain St. Nick vs. Santa. My 5 year old knows St. Nick comes tonight. I wanted him to understand that it wasn't Christmas and when he wakes up tomorrow his stocking will be filled, but that there won't be gifts under the tree to open. So now I'm waiting for him to ask about who St. Nick is. He's never really questioned it before this year and I'm sort of having trouble explaining.</p> <p>Are Santa and St. Nick the same "person" and St. Nick night is like a Christmas trial run? Do you tell some version of the real St. Nicholas story? Is it the spirit of St. Nicholas that fills the stocking? Does bringing up the issue of spirits open a whole can of worms for my non-religious family? :silly: I'm way over thinking this. I can't remember ever thinking too much about it as a child or if my parents ever told me anything. </p>