Do You Celebrate St. Nicholas?
By Anna
@LadyDuck (457918)
Switzerland
December 6, 2016 7:21am CST
Today, December 6th, is St. Nicholas Day.
St. Nicholas (Nikolaos) was a Greek Bishop of Myra (now a Turkish town).
The Bishop was given the nickname of "Nicholas the Wonderworker", because he loved to give small gifts to the children.
Later in time, Saint Nicholas, became the model of the modern Santa Claus, from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
In Europe, we still celebrated mainly in the northern countries, with street parades and mulled wine.
In our country, we have the tradition to light the fireplace in the evening to propitiate a good winter.
Do you celebrate St. Nicholas?
I have everything ready for our dinner by the fireplace.
61 people like this
64 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
6 Dec 16
In France, St Nicholas is celebrated only in the North and the East of the country, not in my area.
The only tradition that I know around the fireplace is the tradition of the log of Christmas : it is a very large log lighted on Dec 23rd and that has to burn at least 3 days. In some areas, Christmas gifts were put at each end of the log.
4 people like this
.@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 16
@topffer Here in the south is surely hard to find a very large chimney. The individual houses used to have a fireplace, but also this tradition is disappearing. As soon as they are going to pass the law to add special filters for the pollution, most people will ask to block the ducts, so to avoid further expenses.
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
6 Dec 16
I think I have seen a movie or two when I was younger, but we never really celerbrated the holiday. I do not really remember them though. I might be getting it mixed up with Santas other name also. Anyway, if I was smart when I was a kid, I should of conned my parents to celebrate both holidays to get twice the presents. 
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
6 Dec 16
No we don't celebrate that and I don't know anyone who does. As warm as it is I would hate to have to light the fireplace!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
6 Dec 16
@LadyDuck You don't give gifts on this day do you?
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 16
@AbbyGreenhill The kids put their new clogs near the chimney and they find the clogs filled with candies and chocolates. The other gifts are for the day of Christmas.
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
10 Dec 16
@LadyDuck that's why it's not celebrated in Australia
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
10 Dec 16
@vickyrose I believe that in Australia British traditions are more common.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
7 Dec 16
Thanks for sharing. It sounds as an exciting event and to rejoice something. We do not celebrate St. Nicholas.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
8 Dec 16
@LadyDuck - It is good for a change from routine life. Festivals brings cheerfulness in our life and it is good that you have been following local traditions.
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
8 Dec 16
@dpk262006 I think that the best way to feel "integrated", is to follow the local traditions.
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@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
7 Dec 16
No we don't have that , Though , he is so acknowledged because parents make their children believe to be always good so at Christmas time they will receive nice gifts (which they themselves put on the Christmas tree base ) from Santa Claus.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
9 Dec 16
No we don't celebrate St NIcholas Day.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
11 Dec 16
@LadyDuck I, however, am not a typical American my mother was born in Quebec and my father's mother was British so I don't really have American Christmas traditions lol
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
11 Dec 16
@BelleStarr I was born in Italy, but I have lived with my husband in the south of France for 25 years and now we are in Switzerland from 10 years. We now have mixed traditions from the three countries.
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
8 Dec 16
@shshiju You surely know that the modern Santa is very different from the one who was depicted in the past, so this means nothing, because the modern Santa is from a designer and he resembles to the one make famous by Coca Cola. Here is an image of Saint Nicholas.
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
8 Dec 16
I would as it sounds wonderful and I like the history of this Saint as he relates to today's Santa Claus- and if I had a fireplace i would light it in his honour for sure. Now you must tell us about what happens in Milan for December 25- Christmas Day! 
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
8 Dec 16
In Milan yesterday was a major holiday, St. Ambrose, the ancient Bishop of Milan and now Saint protector of the city. There is a Christmas market and yesterday evening the La Scala theater held the first Opera of the winter season with "Madama Butterfly" by Puccini. The Christmas day is more or less the same as in every western country.
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
9 Dec 16
@MarymargII NO Christmas day is not turkey in Italy. As I already said in another comment, in the north is a four courses lunch with antipasti, tortellini, stuffed Capon, or cotechino sausage with lentils, salads, fruits and desserts. I think in the south the eat fish, every region has different habits. The gifts are left under the tree by "Baby Jesus" (and not Santa) the night of the 24.
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
9 Dec 16
@LadyDuck Thanks for that- I love information like this- I did travel quite a bit to Europe when I was younger and visited and spent time in Italy- although the southern part but love to learn about Christmas traditions. So Christmas day is turkey? and gifts and Santa for the little ones? 
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
6 Dec 16
No, I don't but I learned something new for today. Happy holiday to you!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
6 Dec 16
@LadyDuck Your fire place is beautiful with your tree decoration :)
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
6 Dec 16
@infatuatedbby Thank you, I have decorated this morning.
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@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
8 Dec 16
@LadyDuck sounds as though his day should be Christmas rather than the 25th
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@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
9 Dec 16
@LadyDuck a date never mentioned in the Gospels - it was chosen as many pagan traditions already celebrated at that time
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
10 Dec 16
@arthurchappell You are right, even the 25th of December was chosen as the day to celebrate, but nothing proves that this date is exactly the day he was born.
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@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
I've never heard of this tradition. Thanks for the share. It sounds like a charming event.
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
9 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Yes, I mentioned chocolate, this is what kids receive from Saint Nicholas. Special shaped chocolate and biscuits.
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@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
@LadyDuck you mentioned chocolate...I would love that tradition too...
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@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
24 Dec 16
No, I never have, but my fireplace is clean as a whistle and ready for a fire. I just haven't lit it yet.
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
25 Dec 16
@Jeanniemaries Yesterday evening it was cool enough for the fire, today at noon will be too warm, we are in the high 50's and it is very warm for the season here.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
25 Dec 16
@LadyDuck Since it's going to be 84 degrees F on Christmas day, I'm not going to light the fire. I hope it's cool enough for you to enjoy one.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Very interesting. I never knew that. Thank you sharing this with us and enjoy your dinner by the fireplace. It sounds wonderful.
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@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
7 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe We should eat there more often, it's a cozy room of the house.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
@LadyDuck Oh very nice! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
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