St Nicholas Day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6.
Who was St. Nicholas?
He was born in the village of Patara, in an area now part of the southern coast of Turkey, to wealthy parents in the 3rd century. His parents raised him to think of others instead of himself. When they died tragically while Nicholas was still young, he used his inheritance to assist the needy, the sick and the suffering. He was known for his generosity and his love of children. Children at the Waldorf School are told stories of his selfless deeds, which include saving sailors at sea and giving dowries to poor maidens so they could marry.
The story is told how he would toss bags of gold into a house through a window at night, so as not to be seen, with the gold often landing in the family’s shoes. This led to the tradition of St. Nicholas leaving treats in shoes left out at night on the eve of St. Nicholas Day.
St. Nicholas visits the Waldorf School of Cape Cod sometime during the night of December 5, and always finds shoes left out, awaiting small trinkets and treasures.
Next week: A Season of Festivals continues, as Class 2 celebrates St. Lucia day at school.
