Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas

by | Dec 8, 2011 | Advent and Christmas, St. Nicholas | 4 comments

I hope you all had a wonderful St. Nicholas Day this year!  Here are a few pictures from our celebration.   If you’d like to share your own pictures, head on over to Catholic Cuisine for a St. Nicholas Day link-up!

~ Gifts from St. Nicholas ~

New Slippers (Shoes for the girls), St. Nicholas and Christmas Angel Playmobil Toys, St. Nicholas Gold Coins, and Candy Oranges

As always, our children also received a New Christmas Picture Book, along with their yearly “note from St. Nicholas” telling them what they need to work on between now and Christmas.
   

*Note:  When we started this little family tradition years ago, with our oldest boys, it wasn’t that big of a deal… Now its a LOT more work, and I really have to watch for sales to keep it from getting way too expensive! :/

~ St. Nicholas Day Brunch ~

Usually I make our Candy Cane Coffee Cake the night before, but I didn’t realize until I was in the middle of making it at 11:30 pm, that we were completely out of eggs!   Thankfully St. Nick delivered some, along with a box of donuts, before I got out of bed in the morning.  While I finished up the coffee cake the kids listened to their Daddy read The Miracle of St. Nicholas and A Gift from St. Nicholas.  

On the Menu:
Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Candy Cane Coffee Cake, Donuts, Oranges, Orange Juice, Texas Pecan Coffee, and St. Nicholas Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Marshmallows.

(The kids all saved their candies to enjoy later, once they are completely over their coughs!) 


During our brunch, Daddy read the story of St. Nicholas from Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year:

Nicholas is the great patron of children and of Christmas giving.  The word “Santa Claus” is a short form of “St. Nicholas.”  He was born in Asia Minor, and after his parents died, he gave all his money to charity.   Once a certain poor man was about to abandon his daughters to a life of sin because they did not have the money for a dowry.  St. Nicholas heard about his problem, so at night, he threw a bag of gold in the man’s window.  This was for the oldest daughter.  He did the same thing for the second daughter, and the grateful father kept watch to find out who was being so good to him.   When St. Nicholas came a third time, the man recognized him and thanked him over and over again.

Later St. Nicholas became Bishop.  He had great love for justice, and once he saved three men who had been falsely condemed to death.  He then turned to their accuser and made him admit that he had been offered money to get rid of these three men.

St. Nicholas died in Myra, and a great basilica was built over his tomb.  Many churches were dedicated in his name, and when his relics were brought to Bari in Italy, this city became a favorite shrine for pilgrims from all over Europe.  He is also the patron of sailors, of prisoners, and with St. Andrew, the Patron of Russia.

To enter Heaven we must keep our soul without sin, or have it washed clean again by sorrow and confession. 

St. Nicholas of Myra, 
Pray for Us!

4 Comments

  1. Grace Hincapie

    Jessica, what a wonderful celebration. I am going to link up as soon as I find time to create a post.

    Reply
  2. Erin

    How beautiful. I know what you mean about trying to find specials, we also buy books and multiplied by 9 does add up. Still a way to slowly build up our library.

    Reply
  3. Kelly

    Beautiful! One of these years I'll remember to make those darling St. Nicholas chocolates. Yours and Charlotte's are so cute!

    Reply
  4. Erin

    How fun, and so wonderful your husband could be there to celebrate! When it falls on a weekday, mine has to run out the door right after the kids discover their shoes, ha ha. And the pecan coffee sounds delicious!

    I used your St. Nicholas coin images again this year – thanks again for making them available!

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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