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.

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? 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.