St. Nicholas Day, 6th of December

Tomorrow, December 6th, St. Nicholas Day is being celebrated here in Germany. It is a pre-Christmas celebration. It is the memorial day of St. Nicholas of Myra. He lived and worked in the Lycia region in the 4th century. That is roughly what Turkey is today.

During the persecution of Christians in 310, he was captured and tortured. Legend has it that he distributed his inherited money among those in need.

This gave rise to the custom in Germany of people putting shoes and boots in front of their doors. Since the festival is mostly aimed at children, the shoes and boots are filled with sweets and chocolate.

Is this custom only in Germany or is December 6th celebrated in some way in other countries too?

Of course I celebrate December 6 but not St. Nicholas day

Of course I celebrate December 6 but not St Nicholas day

Finland's independence anniversary is December 6. On this occasion also remember those who gave their lives fighting for the country during the Winter War and the Continuation War

@Pennarossa2024 The whole world knows the Iceman 🏎️ and ski jumper 🦅 who died in 2019 of pancreatitis

Hi @Soulfly!! It is very nice that you celebrate also St Nicholas!! 🙂 I did not know that it is a custom in Germany!! We celebrate it A LOTTT in The Netherlands but the big pakjesavond where there are a lot of presents for small children and at school for example with lootjes was yesterday evening!! 🙂

I have in the Dutch forum on this page photos how we celebrate in The Netherlands with Sinterklaas and the helpers (de Pieten)! 🙂 It is here: https://penpal-gate.net/forum/12-everyday-life-and-customs/9772-the-dutch-forum/latest#new_post I hope that maybe you like it but i think it is perhaps different in Germany!!

Hi @Soulfly!! It is very nice that you celebrate also St Nicholas!! 🙂 I did not know that it is a custom in Germany!! We celebrate it A LOTTT in The Netherlands but the big pakjesavond where there are a lot of presents for small children and at school for example with lootjes was yesterday evening!! 🙂

I have in the Dutch forum on this page photos how we celebrate in The Netherlands with Sinterklaas and the helpers (de Pieten)! 🙂 It is here: https://penpal-gate.net/forum/12-everyday-life-and-customs/9772-the-dutch-forum/latest#new_post I hope that maybe you like it but i think it is perhaps different in Germany!!

Looks very funny!

Thank you for the photos.

In Germany we have something like "lootjes".

It is called " wichteln".

In the netherlands Sinterklaas as we call it is celebrated on december 5

@Mulanyyy we alsways had it on the 5th and never on the 6th here

@Mulanyyy dunno it Just always has been

It is because it is his birthday on 5 December! 🙂 You can see pictures how we celebrate it on the last page of the Dutch forum: https://penpal-gate.net/forum/12-everyday-life-and-customs/9772-the-dutch-forum/latest#new_post