After celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas every year growing up, our older kids now love playing “St. Nicholas” on the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Even at Thanksgiving this year, our oldest son and our college son both asked for bags of chocolate coins to take back with them so they could surprise their friends.
Last year a few of them put together fun little treat bags—just chocolate coins and cuties—and secretly dropped them on friends’ and families’ porches. It ended up being such a fun and easy way to spread a little love just like St. Nicholas!
Our oldest daughter said her favorite part was how “it’s so fun when friends start sending pictures and trying to figure out who did it!” (Even though a couple Ring cameras totally gave them away.) She also added that you should “make sure the families you stop by don’t have dogs… haha!” (… and I told them to make sure they didn’t go anywhere they’d get shot!)
St. Nicholas Treat Bags
Last year our daughter wrote up a “letter from St. Nicholas.” I formatted it, added a picture, and printed them on cardstock, to tuck inside each bag. They’re available for you to download for free here if you’d like to use them too.
- Printable Letters from St. Nicholas
- Treat bags
- Oranges or Clementines
- Chocolate Coins
- or whatever treats you’d like to leave!
Dear Friend,
A little gift is left here for you,
With prayers that are constant
and blessings anew.
An orange for sweetness,
coins of chocolate gold,
Reminders of love
and stories of old.
Through acts of kindness
and love’s holy light,
We honor the Savior
born on Christmas night.
Keep your eyes fixed on heaven,
where true joy resides,
And know that the saints
walk close by your side.
In Christ,
— Your Servant, St. Nicholas
I love this! What a cute idea. I’m doing it!
Thank you for doing this! These are beautiful!