While Advent is a time of waiting with hope and patience for the coming of the Christ Child, celebrating the life of St. Nicholas offers a festive opportunity to focus more on giving than receiving. Nicholas, the 3rd century Bishop of Myra, serves as an example of living out service to Jesus Christ by showing God’s love to others through his protection of children, sailors, and all in trouble and need. St. Nicholas Day is traditionally celebrated on December 6. (Like all feast days in Advent, however, if it falls on a Sunday, it is transferred to the nearest available weekday.)The night before, shoes or stockings are put out for St. Nicholas to fill with treats and small gifts that are meant to be shared with others.
“In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ~ Acts 20:35
To learn more about the life and traditions of St. Nicholas, visit St. Nicholas Center: https://www.stnicholascenter.org/