Global Holiday Hop: Holland and the Feast of St. Nicholas

In this series of articles I've entitled Global Holiday Hop, I will describe holiday traditions from around the world in a lesson planner format for families, teachers, parents, home-schoolers, scout leaders, catechism and Sunday School teachers. You will find historical information, crafts, games, lessons, recipes, music and more. We begin in the land of my ancestors, the Netherlands or Holland, because in Catholic Holland, traditionally, St. Nicholas's Feast Day is celebrated on December 6, making it one of the earliest of the holiday celebrations.

Nicholas lived in fourth century Asia Minor, in Patara which was a Greek region at the time called Byzantium and is now part of present day Turkey. At a very young age, he was noted for his acts of great charity and also some miraculous powers of healing and reviving life. When three children were found drowned in a rain barrel, Nicholas was called upon and restored the child to life through prayers and intercessions. The Roman emperor Diocletian who was known as one of the most ruthless of the emperors and in particular to the early Christians, had Nicholas tortured and imprisoned. Upon being freed, Nicholas became bishop of the early Byzantine church of Myra. The Bishop garments and mitre (hat) are crimson with white and gold trim, this begets the idea of St. Nick dressed in red.

Because of the commerce and shipping around the Mediterranean, Nicholas had a special concern for sailors and in their patron (special) saint. Nicholas is the patron saint of the orthodox churches in Greece and Russia. Parts of Italy, Belgium, France and many other places are under his care. HIs name varies according to the language. Click the preceding link for a list of variations. Nicholas has become the patron saint of pawnbrokers as well, and they will traditionally display three gold balls representing coins on the shop.

Here is of the best loved tales of Nicholas's generosity and where we get our tradition of hanging stockings upon the mantle. A poor peasant man had three daughters, which in those days presented a great financial burden as the father was expected to provide a sum of money known as a dowry or marriage present to each man who would marry the daughters. If the money was not found the poor girls would be sold into slavery. Nicholas, being kind but shy and humble wanted to give them the dowry money but not be found out. Therefore, he anonymously tossed a bag of gold into the window (or down the chimney depending upon the story) of the family home in the evening, when the stockings had been hung by the fire to dry. Apparently, Nicholas had good aim, for the gold landed in one of the stockings. This is probably the root of the legend of Nicholas arriving by chimney.

Children around the world remember and love Nicholas. He is the most frequent of the gift-bearers in Holiday legend. Every country's practices vary a litle. In Holland, St. Nicholas is said to arrive on a white steed. Children in Holland remove their wooden shoes before entering the home, so on the eve of St. Nick's feast day, shoes are left by the door. They leave a carrot for his horse also. He enters each home and places little gifts of candy, fruit, nuts or perhaps a gold coin their shoes.

Here are some ways to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas:

Any child named Nick, Nicolo, Nicole, Nicholette, Klaus, Nikki or some variation is given a special greeting as this is their feast day, being named for Nicholas. You might allow them to light a candle.

Make Banket (Or Letterbanket), an almond filled pastry that all us good Hollanders love. It's a treat and a craft all in one. Measuring ingredients is excellent math practice. Kneading and shaping dough provides great gross and fine motor skill practice. The baking process is full of scientific applications. And the filled dough is rolled and shaped into letters traditionally so there's a great lesson.

The Byzantine rite or church is a wonderful blend of east and west culture. They are known for lovely mosaics, stained glass and gilt images and icons. Let children explore these art forms with printables from Doverpublications.com. You will coloring pages that are drawn like stained glass. Children can design in many ways, by simply coloring or by cutting out the white paper within the dark lines and gluing colored pieces of tissue paper within the little spaces to create a more authentic stained glass look. Hang them in a window to catch the sun.

Try a torn or cut paper mosaic. Use the stained glass image or let children create their own images. Provide many colors of tiny paper scraps or cut centimeter square pieces. Arrange the colors to make a holiday picture. Try using many bright colors or even bits of wrapping paper.

Make a St. Nick around the world map, placing little symbols on a world map to show where St. Nicholas is the gift giver and where he is venerated (honored).

Play the Coin Toss. Give each child little bean bags or play coins. Set 3 buckets in a column. Children stand at the end and toss coins into each bucket.

Make a bishops mitre. Take a piece of red construction paper. Wrap it around each child's head and tape in place. Remove an gently fold in half Cut dwon boht sides to make a traingle through both sides. Don't cut all the way down; the triangles sides should end about three inches from head opening. Draw or glue a gold ribbon cross on the front.

Make a bishop's crozier or staff. Spray a dowel or broom handle. Moisten Soak paper towel in water and flour. Shape the towel into a question mark shape. When it dries, spray paint it gold and tape to dowel.

Make a bishop's costume. Ask an adult male or teenage boy to arrive dressed as St. Nicholas.

Be sure to have children leave shoes at the door of a classroom or in your home and place a book or gold foil candy in the shoe. Have a lovely and dafe holiday.

Vrolijk kerstfeest (MerryChristmas!)