St. Nicholas fun and games

December 5, 3:42 PMParenting ExaminerTerreece Clarke

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Tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day! While I wasn't Catholic, i attended Catholic school practically all of my life. I had Advent candles and especially looked forward to St. Nicholas Day. We would lay out our school shoes on our desks before going out to gym or recess.

Everyone would be eager to see what St. Nicholas would bring and all of us would say a Hail Mary in hopes we wouldn't get sticks or rocks in our shoes. Oh the embarrassment! Always, the great saint would leave something for all of us! There's nothing like a well loved candy cane from St. Nick. So in honour of a great tradition here are some great links and ideas for St. Nicholas Day.

Even if you're family isn't celebrating the day, it can be used as a learning opportunity or the ideas can be used to enhance your Christmas celebration.

Advent Custom Of The Shoes Courtesy of St. Nicholas Kids.US

This is an ancient Advent custom, widespread in Europe, Canada, and South America. When the children go to bed on the eve of St. Nicholas' Day (December 5), they put upon the window sills little notes which they have written or dictated, addressed to the Child Jesus. These letters, containing lists of desired Christmas presents, are supposed to be taken to heaven by Saint Nicholas or by angels. In South America the children write their letters to the "little Jesus" during the days from December 16 to 24 and put them in front of the [Christmas] crib, whence, they believe, angels take them to Heaven during the night.

St. Nicholas Cake Courtesy of St. Nicholas Center.Org

St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church, Columbus, Ohio, serves these cakes on the feast day of St. Nicholas

½ cup shortening
1 cup butter
3 cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs
3 cups flour
2 tablespoons Vanilla Butternut extract
¼ teaspoon salt
5 oz. evaporated milk + water to equal 1 cup
1 cup maraschino cherries
1 cup chopped walnuts

Grease and flour bundt pan. Blend shortening, butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and extract. Beat well. Add flour and salt, alternately with the milk/water mixture. Mix well. Fold in cherries and nuts. Pour in pan. Place in cold oven. Turn oven on to 325º. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Common Sense Media's Review of St. Nicholas Kids.US

Parents need to know that because this site is in the kids.us domain, there are no outbound links.

Families can talk about the real St. Nicholas and how a third-century bishop became a roly-poly holiday icon. The site offers a Christian perspective on the life of St. Nicholas and makes suggestions on how he should be honored today.

St. Nicholas Day Charm - courtesy of How Stuff Works