We recently moved from Texas to Wisconsin. In Texas nobody celebrated St NIck day, but it is all I hear about around here. I am not quite sure what to do. My daughter is 10 and has never known of St Nick, but I know her friends are going to be talking about what they got for St Nick day. If I start it this year I am sure she will wonder why St Nick never visited before, but if she doesn't get anything I know she will feel left out. Any advice on what to do? Thank you
We did celebrate the holiday and both of my children were thrilled, especially the 10 year old. The question did come up why St Nick came here and not to Texas. We first talked about the holiday and the history behind it. Then I explained that people in Texas do not celebrate the holiday so St Nick does not visit Texas. That answer actually seemed to satisfy her. Thanks to everyone for their responses. Happy Holidays!
Maybe you could explain to her that St. Nick was a real man and research the story of St. Nick with her. Then tell her that you thought it would be a fun tradition to start to celebrate St. Nick night. We have the kids put their shoes by the front door (inside) but then usually have overflow. I'd say on average we spend maybe $15/kid for St. Nick night.
It's a fun little tradition based on St. Nicholas visiting your household on the eve of Dec. 6th. He leaves something simple and little in your stocking for children to find in the morning. In our household it is usually something Christmassy to get excited for the upcoming holiday and maybe a little candy. Just use your kid's friend's parents as an excuse as to if he visits or not. My son has some Jewish and Protestant friends and we just say that maybe so and so's parents didn't ask him to come this year. For your family history you can just say that alot of parents in Texas didn't ask St. Nick to visit, but in Wisconsin they do. She won't question getting an extra little gift. Have fun with it and maybe you can make it a new tradition in your house!
I had to google it because I didn't know what the heck you were talking about. I have a friend in Waterford and she's never mentioned it to me. From what this article says, it's a European thing, and some people in Wisconsin are aware of it as well. I guess I'd leave her a bag of candy -- it seems like that's what kids get.
We always left our shoes out by the door and in the morning they'd be filled with fruit and candy. Usually an apple in one shoe and an orange in the other, with whatever random candy st. nick had laying around and maybe a little toy, like you'd find in your stocking.
I've never heard of st. nick day. Is this different from Christmas?
We do St. Nick's day but its not really a big deal, you just leave your shoes out and they get filled with candy. Now-a-days though some parents go way overboard imho! If your daughter is expecting some sort of $300 Gucci purse in her shoes, I would straight out tell her to forget that. If its just the candy, then that's pretty easy to celebrate. Parents really should pull it back with the extravagant gifts sometimes. Easter is a perfect example--I always thought Easter baskets were filled with some candy, cheap toys, maybe a stuffed bunny, but in years past I hear of parents putting in things like Ipods and $100 mall gift certificates. The point of any holiday is not to break the bank! Sheesh.
My German Foreign exchange student celelbrated St Nick's Day. They left their shoes out and got a little something, candy or fruit the morning of Dec 6th. Since she was 16 I told her we didn't do that and St Nick didn't come to AMerica. I had an 8 year old at the time, I had to save face.
I like the idea of inviting him to come since you live in WI now and telling your daughter that in TX you didn't know to invite him and now that you did you will wait and see what happens here in WI.
Then go ask her friend's moms what St Nick gives and what you are to do.
Good luck, I think it sounds like a fun new tradition in your new home.
To someone who's family ALWAYS celebrated St. Nick, I find it kind of funny that some people have never heard of it. Who knew it was a WI thing! We used to get candy, toys, teen magazines (when I was a teen of course) or fruit. I now carry on the tradition with my 4yr. old. I agree with the others, read up on it, share this with your daughter. It's a great litttle tradition to start & she will be very excited.
St Nick is celebrated on December 6th. The night before he comes and fills either shoes or stockings. We always have our stockings filled. When I was little we received fruit and a little hard candy. In my daughters we fill it with a little candy and a small item of kind. Usually a book. There is a great book about St. Nick that maybe you could get and your daughter can read about him. Also as everyone else suggested google it. You will find alot of information about him. It is an interesting story! Have fun and welcome to WI!
are you talking about christmas?
I've never heard of it either, but I googled it and it's St. Nicholas's (Santa Claus) saint day in the Catholic Church. Every saint has a day and some are more popular or celebrated than others. Here's a link that may help you figure out some stuff to do:
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=391
I wouldn't stress over it. Do you celebrate Christmas? Does Santa visit? I think you could just tell her about what St. Nick's day really is -the saint day -and offer the story of who St. Nicholas was. He WAS a real person. It can be a fun cultural thing to learn about in your new home state! If kids usually get gifts on St. Nick Day AND Christmas, you could just give her a little bit of something -no biggie. Just tell her that Santa Claus has always visited at Christmas and the kids in Wisconsin celebrate St. Nick day with presents, but not many others do.
I would tell her St Nick doesn't go to Texas because of the snow issues (too far to travel by sled). St Nick is not too expensive gifts. Candy or something that fits in the stockings.
