page_title: Saint Nicholas Day
section_title: North America
hierarchical_section_title: Saint Nicholas Day / Traditions by continent / North America
caption_attribution_description: English: FRENCH; INCLUDES PRICED WINE LIST; EMBLEM OF SOCIETY ON COVER; SILK RIBBON ATTACHMENTS
context_page_description: Saint Nicholas Day, also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, is observed on 6 December or on the eve of 5 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar. It is the feast day of Nicholas of Myra with particular regard to his reputation as a bringer of gifts.
  In the European countries of Germany and Poland, boys have traditionally dressed as bishops and begged alms for the poor. In Ukraine, children wait for St. Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year. Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands, Dutch children put out a clog filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas' horse. On Saint Nicholas Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender. In the United States, one custom associated with Saint Nicholas Day is children leaving their shoes in the foyer on Saint Nicholas Eve in hope that Saint Nicholas will place some coins on the soles.
  The American Santa Claus, as well as the British Father Christmas, derive from Saint Nicholas.
context_section_description: While feasts of Saint Nicholas are not observed nationally, cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Evansville, Indiana; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fredericksburg, Texas; Newport News, Virginia; St. Louis, Missouri; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania celebrate St. Nick's Day on a scale similar to the German custom. Although not as widespread as in other countries, some people in the United States celebrate a separate St Nicholas Day by putting their shoes outside their bedroom doors or hanging an empty stocking by the fireplace on the evening of 5 December.  St Nicholas then comes during the night.  On the morning of 6 December, those people will find their shoes/stockings filled with gifts and sugary treats. Widespread adoption of the tradition has spread among the German, Polish, Belgian and Dutch communities throughout the United States.
  Americans who celebrate Saint Nicholas Day generally also celebrate Christmas Day (December 25) as a separate holiday.  Some of the traditions and rituals of Christmas, such as leaving out a shoe or stocking to be filled, are similar to the traditions of Saint Nicholas Day.
caption: Saint Nicholas Day event held in 1892 by the Saint Nicholas Society
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