St. Nicholas Day through the years.

history, music, my garden, saints,

On this day ten years ago I did not post anything about St. Nicholas, whose feast day it was and is. Just now I was checking back through the years to find out what I’ve already said about the God-loving man who is so dear to people all over the world, when I discovered this post from ten years ago, at the time my new garden was pretty much installed (the back part of the property). If I didn’t have pictures like the one below, I would not believe how fast a garden can happen. The fountain shown did not remain long, because it exfoliated in its first winter and was returned to the nursery where I’d bought it.

Early December 2015

The most enjoyable posts here over the years on St. Nicholas Day seem to me these two: One when I traveled to a parish of which he is the patron saint, and one in which I have a lovely icon and the quote from Fr. Thomas Hopko in honor of him. So if you’d like to read about St. Nicholas or his feast you can click on those links. One of the posts includes this photo:

2025 is another year in which I won’t be celebrating with our sister parish on their feast day, because I am not completely well from a cold that knocked me down a bit, and I’m catching up on rest and everything else that didn’t happen for a few days. But it doesn’t feel right to let the day pass without joining in the commemoration at some level.

St Nicholas of Myra, 12th century; Church of Saint Nicholas of the Roof, Troodos mountains, Cyprus.

I’m sure that after Divine Liturgy for the feast, everyone at St. Nicholas parish will be singing this song at their festal meal. It is playing in my mind right now:

Though they are singing in a different language, Old Church Slavonic or Russian, I like the rendition of these men the best:  “O Who Loves Nicholas the Saintly.”

I pray that the joy of St. Nicholas reaches you wherever you are.

13 thoughts on “St. Nicholas Day through the years.”

  1. A lovely post, and a nice counterpoint to the commercialized Santas all around just now. I was curious about your comment that “The fountain shown did not remain long, because it exfoliated in its first winter and was returned to the nursery where I’d bought it.” I knew it didn’t have leaves, but I’d never heard ‘exfoliate’ used in that way. The dictionary expanded my knowledge, and reminded me that ‘exfoliation’ also is used to promote various skin products!

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    1. Haha – it was also my first experience of the word used that way! I was dismayed to discover that the finish had layers that could peel off. The replacement fountain that endures is not painted but stained, which is much better.

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  2. Sorry to read you are ‘under the weather’ and I do hope you will be tip top soon! The language and the singing on that link sounds very familiar to me. Brings back memories of Russian church growing up.

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    1. Thank you, Ellen. Memories of Christmases past are such a big part of celebrating the season. I was just asking my hairdresser yesterday what Christmas was like for her growing up, and she had very heartfelt stories about moving from Mexico when she was five and the big change in Christmas traditions. We’re blessed to be in families where these memories, whether sweet or difficult, are born and shared.

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  3. I’m so sorry you are dealing with a terrible cold and I hope it is short-lived. I think you found a perfect way to celebrate this day, even without being with others. I do love the icons and that photo is lovely.

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  6. Hi.. I loved the story of St Nickolas and the song…. being from German people I looked up the German story of St Nick.. it is good too… thank you for your , always, wonderful love and sharings. Praying you are feeling well again … at least to bake those Christmas cookies you bake.. mmm love Merri and us in Minnesota. In Germany, Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th, and on the night before (December 5th), children clean their shoes and place them outside their doors. The tradition involves St. Nicholas (Nikolaus) filling the shoes with treats like nuts, fruits, and chocolate for good behavior, while less well-behaved children may find a switch or stick, often with the help of companions like Knecht Ruprecht or Krampus. In some regions, a single boot is used, while in others, a plate or whole boot is left out. 

    You can watch this video to learn more about the German tradition of St. Nicholas Day:

    33s

    Mommy Hedz

    YouTube · Dec 6, 2020

    Key traditions

    • Shoe placement: On the evening of December 5th, children clean and polish their boots or shoes and place them outside the front door or by the fireplace. 
    • Gifts and treats: The next morning, they find their shoes filled with small gifts like chocolates, nuts, and fruits. 
    • Nikolaus’s companions: In some traditions, St. Nicholas is accompanied by a figure like Knecht Ruprecht, who may carry a stick to punish naughty children, or Krampus, a more fearsome figure from Alpine folklore who frightens misbehaving children. 
    • Offerings: Some children also leave out food and drink for St. Nicholas’s donkey or horse. 
    • Preparation: Children often prepare for the visit by cleaning their rooms or writing letters to St. Nicholas. 
    • Alternative to Santa: In Germany, the idea of Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man, similar to Santa Claus) is distinct from the traditional St. Nicholas. The Weihnachtsmann is not the primary gift-giver; that role belongs to the Christkind (Christ Child) or the Nikolaus on December 6th. 

    This video explains the role of Krampus in the German tradition:

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