Episode 55: Holiday Traditions…More Than Just a Guy With a White Beard and Red Suit
What You’ll Learn
Saint Nicholas (01:40)
Shoes and Notes (02:02)
Baking and Cooking (05:25)
Recap (10:38)
Invitation (11:40)
WARNING…for the mommas listening, there is sensitive information in today’s podcast that is meant for mom’s ears only.
The holidays with kids are both incredibly beautiful and overwhelmingly full of challenges, like organizing all the people, planning meals, packing for trips or preparing for guests, not to mention all the gifts & MORE! This week we want to give you a peek behind the curtain, and tell you ALL about the holidays and traditions we celebrate in our homes. BUT, as you listen remember…we’re sharing ideas, customs, and traditions from over the years and how they’ve been shaped in the different seasons of motherhood. Your seasons will change, your capacity will change, and you still have plenty of time to try-on traditions to see what fits your family best.
Saint Nicholas (01:40)
The Feast of Saint Nicholas falls on December 6th every year! It’s wildly loved in my home and Britt’s house!
Shoes & Notes (02:02)
Traditionally, a shoe is put outside in hopes that St. Nicholas will put a treasure inside or a note is left on the window sill. Shoes are filled with oranges, coins, chocolate coins, little presents, religious items, candy canes, slippers, and even PJ’s.
In my family, I leave a gift for each child at their spot at the dinner table.
Another way to celebrate is to write a letter to St. Nicholas and either put it with your shoe or on a windowsill. The tradition came from Bavaria and Austria where children would write short notes to St. Nicholas and leave them on their windowsills on the night of December 5th. The notes are addressed to “the dear Christ Child in Heaven” and St. Nicholas is supposed to take them with him when he visits that night.
In Britt’s house, the kids leave the shoes outside, they are filled with an orange (to symbolize the dowry money that St. Nicholas would leave for the brides-to-be), chocolate gold coins, dollar coins, a candy cane (to symbolize the crozier of the Bishop), and a small religious item (doll, prayer card, or rosary), and Saint Nicholas brings a family game (for everyone to play).
Baking & Cooking (05:25)
Britt’s family makes these every year, and they’re simple AND delicious! They’re like a butter-spice cookie. Britt says they’re similar to biscoff.
Britt’s family also eats a feast of pork, with mustard and apples as well as fresh bread and a veggie (it will be sourdough in Britt’s house). Then they light a candle over dinner, say a prayer, and play a game after dinner.
In my house, we do the games at their spot at the table (we don’t do the shoes). Britt and I are very different (I don’t wrap much) in our practice. I’ll read our Saint Nicholas book during breakfast after the kids wake up and enjoy seeing their games.
Sidenote…we’ve started a Mission for Mommas! One of our favorite things is to find mommas in the grocery store and give them a gift card for some coffee or groceries. You can join us by clicking HERE or just buy your own gift card and give it to a momma you see who needs a pick-me-up! (Make sure to take a photo and share it with us on IG!)
Usually, we’re doing Christmas School (with Sarah Mackenzie and readaloudrevival.com), and while St. Nicholas day isn’t generally part of it, I will add it in!
Recap(10:38)
Saint Nicholas was a real guy worth celebrating!
His feast day is celebrated on December 6th every year, and you put shoes out the night before (and he comes during the night while the kids are sleeping).
Traditionally a shoe is put outside in the hopes that Saint Nicholas will put a treasure inside, or a note is left on the windowsill. But, if this sounds like a custom you want to invite into your holiday season and you’re feeling a bit spent this year, you can still do something as simple as reading his story over dinner and buying some windmill cookies from the store.
Invitation (11:40)
Finally, hop on Instagram and share a holiday tradition with us that we can share with the mommas in our community! We love hearing from you, and mommas learning from mommas is SO important, it builds community AND it enriches our lives!
