A little reason to celebrate
St. Nicholas Day
Religious · Seasonal · December 6
St. Nicholas Day honors Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop remembered for generosity, often marked with small gifts left in shoes or stockings.
St. Nicholas Day falls on Sunday, December 6, 2026. That is 40 days away.
Saint Nicholas was a bishop in the early Christian church, from a town in what is now Turkey. Stories about him center on quiet generosity, especially toward children and people in need. His feast day is observed by many Christians, and in some American homes it is also a family custom.
The best-known tradition is simple. Children set out their shoes or hang a stocking the night before, and in the morning they find small treats inside. Oranges, chocolate coins, nuts and candy canes are common. The gifts are modest on purpose, closer to a nudge than a haul.
In the United States, the custom is strongest in families and towns with German, Dutch, Polish or other European roots, where it arrived with immigrants. Some churches hold a service or a visit from someone dressed as the bishop, in a red robe and tall pointed hat called a mitre, carrying a crook-shaped staff. Bakeries in some areas sell spiced cookies shaped like him.
Many people also know that the figure of Santa Claus grew partly out of Saint Nicholas, and the name itself comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas. The bishop version tends to look more serious, with a long beard and church vestments instead of a fur-trimmed suit.
For families who keep the day, the shoe by the door is often the whole point. A child checking it first thing, still in pajamas, is how the morning usually starts.
Ways to celebrate
- Leave a small treat in a family member's shoe overnight.
- Bake spiced cookies and share them with neighbors.
- Read a children's book about the legends of Saint Nicholas.
- Give a quiet, anonymous gift to someone who could use it.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, December 6 |
| 2027 | Monday, December 6 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, December 6 |
| 2029 | Thursday, December 6 |
| 2030 | Friday, December 6 |
All national days on December 6
Also on December 6
- National Gazpacho Day
- National Microwave Oven Day
- Put on Your Own Shoes Day
- National Miners Day
- Mitten Tree Day
Categories: Religious daysSeasonal days