In our house St. Nicholas is St. Nicholas - the good Bishop from Myra who rides a white horse. Santa Claus is Santa Claus - that jolly fellow who brings gifts wrapped in gold paper sometime during the wee hours of Christmas morning. St. Nicholas reminds us during this sometimes hectic season to keep our hearts focused on the Babe that we remember each Christmas.
On the Eve of Dec. 5th we get out two pairs of Papa's dress shoes and shine them up. Each child has a little stocking and in that stocking goes each child's letter to Santa Claus. St. Nicholas is kind enough to drop the stockings off at the North Pole on his way back to the starry Heavens. We light the candles on Mother Mary's path and hear the same story that goes so nicely with our Advent Garden. A carrot for St. Nicholas' horse and a couple of cookies are left for our saintly friend.
The next morning we find St. Nicholas and his horse have arrived in the Advent Garden! I made both these figures years ago. St. Nicholas is made from the pattern found in The Nature Corner (hint - the same pattern in different colors also makes a lovely St. Patrick). The horse is from the pattern found in Feltcraft. I have used both these books many, many times.
The stockings are gone and in their place Papa's shoes are overflowing with fruit and nuts. My children have such fun piling up on Mama's bed and cracking nuts and feasting on St. Nicholas' gifts. St. Nicholas' gift to me is that breakfast on this morning in pretty much taken care of! This year St. Nicholas left packages of dried figs. Later in the day my oldest daughter scooped out the insides and filled them with melted dark chocolate and then dipped them - they will be a nice addition to a Christmas Tea with friends on Friday. We enjoy more stories about St. Nicholas and I was happy to find a coloring page with St. Nicholas and his horse.
One year my children asked me why St. Nicholas doesn't visit all the children we know - well you do have to invite him and you have to be prepared to love Mother Mary and help her prepare for Jesus' birthday!
If you haven't invited him yet to your house - why not do so next year? The St. Nicholas Center is a wonderful place to get started for ideas.
4 comments:
You have a really neat site so am Blog Tagging you :)
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HI, Donna! I just found my way here (looking for Poe info :)). I like your blog........you post about as much as me......maybe a bit more..... :) I like your style. Your girls look a lot like me when I was their age :) Just a few random thoughts, from a tired mom who needs to go to bed :)
Blessings to you and yours!
Thank you for keeping these traditions alive. Tis so important to maintain the true meaning of our Holy Days.
nice posting. very good work. thank you. :)
bathmate
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