our traditions: st. nicholas' day

Disclaimer:  Before you read this, you should know that I don't have any issues with Santa or the idea of people using Santa in their holiday traditions as a family.  This is just the way we do it at our house.  This is what works for us as a family, but whatever you do at your house and whatever works for you is FABULOUS!  

 

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Today is St. Nicholas' Day.  Don't know what St. Nicholas' Day is?  Go here.

We celebrate St. Nicholas' Day at our house for a variety of reasons:
1)  Our girls already know that Mommy and Daddy are the ones who give them their gifts at Christmas not Santa.  (Go ahead . . . you can call us party poopers if you want to.  ;)  I won't be offended.  I've heard it before.)

2)  We decided before we had children that we wanted to try to get away from the commercialism of Christmas as much as possible by giving only a few gifts and focusing more on traditions, family time and giving to others. 

3)  St. Nicholas is the real person who the fun of Santa Claus is based on, so we thought we would help them focus on what a real person did to help others.

4)  We aren't Roman Catholic, but the characteristics of St. Nicholas are ones we would love for our girls to embody.  And we try to incorporate a variety of traditions into our holiday celebration.

**I know lots of people who use the idea of Santa to do these same things . . . that's great too.  For example, my friend Jocelyn over at We Talk of Christ teaches her kids the importance of giving by enlisting her kids as Santa's secret helpers.  This is such a great idea!**

We celebrate St. Nicholas' Day at our house every year with a few simple traditions:
1) We put up our tree and other Christmas decorations.

2) The girls have St. Nick boxes that get filled with small and simple gifts as well as some chocolate gold-covered coins and a wooden shoe filled with carrots.  Read why here.

 

Remember these haircessory holders?

wooden shoe with carrots and coins

inside lid of St. Nick box

3) We think of one person or family we can give something special to this holiday season.  I love this idea that Leslie shared during twelve (plus) days of traditions.

I realize that most you don't celebrate St. Nicholas' Day, but the whole point of this traditions for us is getting our children to focus on giving not getting during this time of year . . . and that's something many of us do have in common.

What are some ways you try to teach your children the importance of giving to others?

Tradition on!