Happy St. Nick's Day!!!!

Yep, we do the celebration of Christmas a little different around here. Today at school my son along with his classmates will be celebrating St. Nick's (Nicholas) Day. At his old parochial school, the children placed their shoes outside in the hallway, and at a certain time, it was announced they were to remain in their classrooms. After a little while, they were able to go and retrieve their shoes, filled with candy and goodies. Since we moved and he attends a new parochial school, I'm not sure exactly how they will celebrate it today. I'll have to wait until he comes home to find out.

We have told our son that there is no real Santa Claus as the 'world' portrays him from the North Pole, with a red suit, and reindeer. He has respectfully kept the 'secret' quiet when around other children. (We still have fun decorating, tree, little village, etc~ just not the emphasis on Santa)

However, we have told him that there was a real St. Nicholas, a real man way back long ago (third century A.D.) who went around giving to the poor, and helping the needy. It is upon this fact that the modern day Santa Claus stories have developed. We have also told him the pictures of the red santa have developed in the 1800's mainly due to advertisements, etc. There was a poem/story (The Night Before Christmas) written and have launched what we have today. He at nine years old, can formulate this history, and say in his own words: It {the story of the real man} has become secularized.

Today in many European countries, they too will be celebrating the 'feast day of St. Nicholas'. For a very informative web site click here.
This is an excellent, and very helpful website. In fact on this page , (click here) is the difference between St. Nicholas~the real giving man, and Santa Claus, the secularized version. Also on this page, click here, is a very telling summary statement. Copyright laws prohibit me from quoting. it...please check out the website.



So have a happy St. Nicholas' day today!!