December 19, 2017

Tonight when it's dark (Today in the evening, how it gets dark)

Saint Nicholas may come. (Saint Nicholas maybe come.)

He loves to bring a big surprise. (He loves surprise.)

He gives the children toys. (He gives the children toys.)

cookies, apples, (Cookies, apples,)

balls and games, (balls And games,)

bells and whistles, (bells And whistles,)

Dolls and trains. (dolls And trains.)

Surprises for the boys. (surprises for boys.)

Surprises for the girls. (surprises for girls.)

Saint Nicholas is our friend in heaven. (Saint Nicholas is our heavenly friend.)

He is the children's saint. (He children's Saint.)

(Thanks Saint Nicholas!)

Thank you for the toys! (Thanks behind toys!)

We thank you, good Saint Nicholas! (Thanks Saint Nicholas!)

You bring us many joys. (You have brought us much joy.)

St. Nicholas Day has religious roots and traditions of celebration developed by the people for centuries. The Orthodox honor St. Nicholas, known for many miracles, on December 19. He is called an imitator of the holy life of Christ and a bearer of virtue. Catholics venerate the memory of St. Nicholas annually on December 6 as the patron saint of travelers and children.

According to one of the legends, in ancient times in the city of Mira (in the south-west of Asia Minor) there lived a young man named Nicholas. He was the only son of wealthy parents, but he was orphaned early. Nikolay lived immersed in the world of science, he rarely left the house. One day, the young man learned from an old servant that a poor girl who lived on the outskirts of the city could not get married because she had no dowry. “I have everything I want. And somewhere nearby, people are suffering, ”Nikolai thought. He took the required amount from the treasury and under the cover of night, throwing on a dark cloak with a hood so that no one would recognize him, made his way to the girl's house and threw a bundle of money out of her window. The next morning, a rumor spread through the city that an angel from heaven had come.

In late medieval England, there was a tradition on Saint Nicholas' Day of appointing a "boy bishop" for the period up to Christmas time. As part of the celebration, the boys played the roles of priests and bishops, who could even give orders to the elders.

Today, the tradition of a wide celebration of St. Nicholas Day as the "Great Giver" is preserved in a number of Western European countries.

In America, children wait for St. Nick's Day in an empty shoe (or sock) left on the eve of candy or souvenirs. “Good” children get sweets, and “bad” children get shoes with coal 😉

The holiday is celebrated every year, but in different countries The celebration falls on different dates. This is due to the difference in lunar calendars. When this bright holiday is celebrated, one must adhere to Great Lent, but it is allowed to eat fish with butter and drink red wine.

Saint Nicholas Day is a Christian holiday that commemorates the memory of Nicholas the Wonderworker. In the East, Saint Nicholas is considered the patron saint of the navy, in the West - innocent prisoners, marriageable girls or children. In Catholic countries, his holiday is celebrated on the night of December 5-6 according to the Gregorian calendar, and the celebration in Orthodox regions takes place on December 19 according to the Julian calendar.

In Germany, 49% of the population are Catholics, in their Germanic-Romance culture, Saint Nikolaus comes with his servant Ruprecht, who looks creepy and punishes naughty children with rods. On the night of December 5-6, children put polished boots on the windowsill, where the benefactor Nikolaus puts his gifts or sweets.

In Russia, the holiday is celebrated from 18 to 19 December. Nicholas the Wonderworker is depicted as a kind grandfather with a long gray beard. For children who have been well-behaved for a whole year, he puts treats under the pillow, and for those who are naughty, he puts a twig in the corner of the room as a punishment.

In Poland, the magic of December 6th is called Mikołajki. St. Mykola comes at night, leaves gifts for children and adults on the windowsills, in socks or boots. The most famous legend says: Mykola saved three girls - he threw money for a dowry, their father, seeing this, fell at the feet of the Saint. To which Saint Mykola asked him to take an oath that he would not tell anyone about his good deed.

In Ukraine, Nikolai Ugodnik or St. Nicholas appears on the night of December 19th. He gives sweets to obedient children, and to those who have not obeyed their parents for a whole year, he puts an ember or a rod into the bed. His parents prepare treats for him - cookies with spices and dried fruits.

St. Nicholas Day in Bulgaria is called Nikulden - the benefactor of pirates and shipbuilders, it is believed that he owns the water element.

To properly celebrate St. Nicholas Day in Russia, on December 19, you need to fulfill a number of traditions:

• on the festive table cook fish dishes;
• sew attributes of the underwater world on hats for children to protect them from prying eyes;
• put carp scales in your wallet in order to attract wealth soon.

By the way, in the old days, all treats for the festive table were bought together with relatives and neighbors in order to forget all the quarrels that accumulated during the year. Even by this day it was necessary to distribute all the debts, otherwise the whole next year the family was in poverty.

Italy is a Catholic country, Saint Nicholas got here on December 6th. Adults give gifts to kids in the morning. There is also the custom of "Rito delle nubili", when engaged and free girls are given gifts. And in England there is the Church of St. Nicholas, where the tradition of choosing a “boy-bishop” has been preserved: the guys decide among themselves who will play the role of a clergyman who can give instructions to some adults.

history of the holiday

What do we know about the saint in whose honor the holiday is celebrated? Saint Nicholas was born in Turkey in the city of Mira. The boy grew up in a wealthy family of Feofan and Nona, who sincerely served God, so he was brought up in holy traditions. He grew up with such principles that committing a sin and going over to the side of evil is a terrible human mistake.

When Nicholas came of age, his family died, but left him the entire inheritance. But money will never replace relatives, so Nikolai decided to help those in need, while not asking for anything in return.

At the age of 19 he became a priest. When the pirates tried to capture the city, Nikolai Ugodnik took all the children of the city to the temple, thereby protecting them from death, and he went to meet the sea wolves - he gave them gold and swore an oath to help. After that, the pirates retreated from the city. Since then, St. Nicholas has been considered the patron saint of not only children, but also shipbuilders.

Now in the city of Demre (formerly Mir) the church of St. Nicholas, the father of Christmas, has been erected. And the traditions of putting fish dishes on the table, giving gifts and helping have appeared since 319 from the birth of Jesus Christ.

Gifts for St. Nicholas Day

Attentive parents traditionally hide gifts for children under a pillow or in shoes. There is an opinion that Nicholas the Wonderworker gives gifts only to those children who have been obedient for a whole year, and punishes those who behaved badly. Traditional treat of Nicholas - gingerbread in the form of stars, which he puts under the pillow for the children.

It is not difficult to choose what to give children - it can be clothes that develop and educational games, gadgets, stationery items, creative kits.

Adults, like children, also want to receive gifts. It is best to focus on budget gifts - sweets, chocolate or household items. If you want to please your loved one, you can hide tickets for a concert or performance under your pillow, but the main gift on this day - a warm family dinner, when everyone gathers at the same table and shares positive emotions.

St. Nicholas Day: Traditions

To find out the yield and weather for the whole year, you need to turn to the signs and beliefs of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker:

1. If the weather is warm on this day, then May will pass.
2. If the trees are covered with frost, the coming year will be bread.
3. If you do not give alms to the needy, health may go away.
4. If you owe someone, return it.
5. If you offend a girl of marriageable age, you won’t meet personal happiness.
6. If the night is snowy, then the winter will be frosty.

Also on these days it is forbidden to sew, wash, repair, borrow.

Songs for Saint Nicholas Day

Every child is waiting for a gift from Nicholas the Wonderworker on this day. To appear festive mood, you should turn to children's poems for St. Nicholas Day, where the memory of him is sung, and sing along with the kids.

Nikolai will come home

It will bring a lot of happiness.

And health and success

Love, joy and laughter.

Creativity, mood,

Any desires of fulfillment.

And precious warmth

Faith, light and good.

Protect you on the road

Blessed Nikolai Ugodnik.

Children and everyone for the joy

Bring sweetness as a gift.

Do you celebrate this holiday? Tell us about your family traditions!

Saint Nicholas is not a fictional character. Such a person really existed, and he did a lot for the Christian faith, having risen to the rank of Archbishop of the World of Lycia in Byzantium at that time. His myrrh-streaming relics were stolen from the tomb of the temple in the lower Worlds in Demre (Turkey, Antalya) and transported to Italy in Bari and Venice. Many miraculous deeds are also associated with him, such as the resurrection of a dead sailor, the taming of storms and storms, and others associated with many aspects of human life. Saint Nicholas is the patron of both children and sailors, fishermen, merchants, bankers, agriculture and beekeeping, livestock and wild animals, the pacifier of the warring, the deliverer from vain death and the defender of the innocently condemned.

In folk legends, he is portrayed as the "senior" over the saints, the lord, blessed by God himself to rule not only on earth, but also in heaven. Nikolai was indeed born into a wealthy family. But he completely gave his inheritance to charitable needs. There are also stories that tell of how he gave part of his gold to three beggar girls whose father sent them into harlots so that they could somehow feed themselves. Thanks to the money found one morning under the door of the house, the girls retained their honor and successfully married.

In a word, a person of such magnitude could not pass without a trace for world history and culture, and now in Europe and the Balkans, somewhere in Asia and America, St. Nicholas Day is one of the most anticipated and beloved days, which opens a series of new year holidays. Catholics celebrate it on December 6, Orthodox on December 19.

In France, St. Nicholas Day is most colorfully celebrated in Lorraine, in the small town of San Nicolas de Port, the patron saint of which is just this saint. The festive procession develops into a whole theatrical procession to the fanfare. Nicholas leads the procession. He is followed by a ghost with rods for naughty children and a huge bag into which he throws the most notorious little pranksters and takes them with him.

In Germany, Saint Nicholas Day has been celebrated since 1555. Children hang festive socks over the fireplace, and by morning they are waiting for small gifts and sweets to appear in each of the socks. To do this, of course, one must behave very well, because only good behavior is rewarded.

In the Netherlands, it is believed that St. Nicholas does not come, but sails on a ship a few days before the holiday, and then moves from house to house on horseback named Amerigo. Children put their shoes by the fireplace or at the entrance to the house, sometimes they put hay, carrots or other treats for Amerigo in them. The next morning, instead of hay and vegetables, children find gifts in their shoes.

Nicholas is also the patron saint of the Italian city of Sassiri (Sardinia). On December 6, it is customary in Sassiri to give gifts to young brides as well. This tradition is called Rito delle Nubili. In the Austrian tradition, Saint Nicholas has an evil servant Krampus. Krampus made sure that December 6 brought, in addition to surprises, frosts and cold winds. Severe frosts and evil winter spirits balance the kindness of Nicholas and reward people for the misdeeds that everyone involuntarily committed throughout the year.

In East Slavic countries with a pagan past, St. Nicholas is probably identified with Veles. Consequently, a wide variety of legends about him have been preserved in folklore. At times Soviet Union December 19 was an ordinary day, but gradually the significance of the holiday is being restored.

In Bulgaria this holiday is called Nikulden and is also celebrated by fishermen, merchants and bankers. Nicholas is revered by the Bulgarians as the guardian of the family, home and good. Carp dishes are popular on this day. Carp is considered a sacrificial fish on this holiday. Therefore, Nikulden is also called Fish St. Nicholas.

In Portugal, Nicholas is considered the patron saint of students. Every year from November 29 to December 7, the Nicolinas festival is held in Portugal. In Hungary, Saint Nicholas Day marks the beginning of the Christmas sales. In Albania, it is associated with the beginning of winter and is called the Winter St. Nicholas Day. In Canada and the States, it is called Saint Nick's Day and practically does not differ from the European holiday. Obedient children find gifts in their shoes in the morning, naughty children find coal. St. Nicholas, as a prototype of Santa Claus, is thus a bright outlet for many people around the world.

Christmas holidays begin in Europe on December 6, when Catholics around the world celebrate one of the oldest Catholic holidays - St. Nicholas Day. The celebration of St. Nicholas Day should remind people of the Selfless Gift of Love, which is very important on the eve of Christmas.

About the good deeds of St. Nicholas, who is considered the patron saint of travelers and children, there are legends passed down from generation to generation among the people. They tell how St. Nicholas helped the poor and the destitute, and secretly tossed coins and food into the shoes of the children exposed outside the door. According to one of the legends, St. Nicholas, on one of his sea voyages between Mira and Alexandria, resurrected a sailor who fell off the mast in a storm and crashed to death. Another legend tells how he helped a poor girl to marry her lover, giving her money for a dowry. From historical sources it is known that Bishop Nicholas acted as a defender of three Byzantines unjustly sentenced to death.

After the death of St. Nicholas, people continued his tradition of helping those in need anonymously, and such gifts are still called gifts of St. Nicholas.

According to one source, medieval nuns carried food and clothes in baskets to the doors of the poor on the night of December 6th. In the 10th century, in the Cologne Cathedral, on the day of the memory of St. Nicholas, students of the parochial school began to distribute sweets.

In late medieval England, there was a tradition on Saint Nicholas' Day of appointing a "boy-bishop" for the period up to Christmas time. As part of the celebration, the boys played the roles of priests and bishops, who could even give orders to the elders.

Today, the tradition of a wide celebration of St. Nicholas Day as the "Great Giver" is preserved in a number of Western European countries.

St. Nicholas Day is primarily a holiday for children.

In the Netherlands, on the eve of St. Nicholas Day (December 5), Sinterklaas presents children with gifts. A few days before December 5th (starting from the day Saint Nicholas arrives in the Netherlands by boat), small children put their shoes in front of the chimney and sing special songs for Sinterklaas. Often they put a carrot or some hay for the horse of St. Nicholas (her name is Amerigo). The next morning, children find small gifts in their shoes: chocolate coins, a package of marmalade, or a small toy. On the night of December 5th, Sinterklaas brings gifts to every child who behaved well last year (in practice, to all children). Usually Nikolai leaves a bag with a gift outside the house or living room, after which neighbors or parents drag him inside through a door or window, as if Sinterklaas's helpers. Another version of presenting a gift is to ask someone to dress up as Sinterklaas and present the gift to the child in person.

Which St. Nicholas fills with gifts, assessing whether the owners behaved well. If the children were not obedient, then instead of gifts, there may be three branches (roots) in the shoe. In anticipation of the holiday, children try not to be naughty, and no one is left without gifts from St. Nicholas.

The Czech and Slovak Mikulas, as well as the Polish Mikolajka, are often accompanied by an angel fighting the devil. On the morning of December 6, Polish children find small gifts and sweets under their pillows.

In Hungary and Romania, children usually leave their shoes on the windowsill on the night of December 6th. The next morning, Nikolai (Szent Miklos or Mikulas in Hungary, Mos Nicolae or Sfantul Nicolae in Romania) puts candy and souvenirs in them if they were good, or a branch if they misbehaved.

In France, Saint Nicholas Day is actively celebrated in the eastern part of the country. Particularly revered is St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Lorraine, where he is considered a patron saint. Here, in the small town of San Nicolas de Port, there is the Basilica of San Nicolas, which houses the right hand (according to other sources, the finger) of St. Nicholas and other shrines associated with him. The day of St. Nicholas, which has been celebrated since the Middle Ages, is official holiday region.

On this day in the evening, a festive procession leaves the center of San Nicolas de Port and moves with music and fanfare through the main streets of the city. The procession is led by a venerable old man with a white beard (St. Nicholas), who is accompanied by a ghost with an armful of rods to flog disobedient children. He takes them into his wicker bag. Local residents, having heard the sounds of celebrations from afar, go out to "meet" St. Nicholas, and the children receive sweets.

In Italy, on December 6, there is a tradition called "Rito delle nubili", which is still observed in the city of Sassiri, whose patron saint is St. Nicholas. Here, gifts are given to young brides during the day. A fair is held in the city of Trieste, and on the morning of the 6th, children are given gifts.

In Portugal, St. Nicholas has been revered since the Middle Ages as the patron of students. Every year from November 29 to December 7, a festival called Nicolinas takes place in honor of Saint Nicholas.

In Albania, the feast of the saint, known as the feast of St. Nicholas of Winter, is celebrated on the eve of December 6 - in the evening of December 5. On the eve of the holiday, Albanians light candles and fast in anticipation of midnight, when roasted lamb or pork is served on the table. Then people greet each other with the words "May the Night of St. Nicholas help you!"

In Canada and the United States of America, St. Nick's Day is celebrated in traditions similar to those in Germany. On the night of December 6, children leave an empty shoe (or sock) outside and on the morning of December 6, they wake up and rush to check what Saint Nick has put in their empty shoes. Shoes with sweets or souvenirs go to "good" children, and shoes with coal - "bad".

Christmas holidays begin in Europe on December 6, when Catholics around the world celebrate one of the oldest Catholic holidays - St. Nicholas Day.

The celebration of St. Nicholas Day should remind people of the Selfless Gift of Love, which is very important on the eve of Christmas.

About the good deeds of St. Nicholas, who is considered the patron saint of travelers and children, there are legends passed down from generation to generation among the people. They tell how St. Nicholas helped the poor and destitute, and secretly tossed coins and food into the shoes of the children exposed outside the door. According to one of the legends, St. Nicholas, in one of his sea voyages between Mira and Alexandria, resurrected a sailor who fell off the mast in a storm and crashed to death. Another legend tells how he helped a poor girl to marry her lover, giving her money for a dowry. From historical sources it is known that Bishop Nicholas acted as a defender of three Byzantines unjustly sentenced to death.

After the death of St. Nicholas, people continued his tradition of helping those in need anonymously, and such gifts are still called gifts of St. Nicholas.

According to one source, medieval nuns carried food and clothes in baskets to the doors of the poor on the night of December 6th. In the 10th century, in the Cologne Cathedral, on the day of memory of St. Nicholas, students of the parochial school began to distribute sweets.

In late medieval England, there was a tradition on Saint Nicholas' Day of appointing a "boy-bishop" for the period up to Christmas time. As part of the celebration, the boys played the roles of priests and bishops, who could even give orders to the elders.

Today, the tradition of a wide celebration of St. Nicholas Day as the "Great Giver" is preserved in a number of Western European countries.

St. Nicholas Day is, first of all, a holiday for children.

In the Netherlands on the eve of St. Nicholas Day (December 5), Sinterklaas gives gifts to children. A few days before December 5th (starting from the day Saint Nicholas arrives in the Netherlands by boat), small children put their shoes in front of the chimney and sing special songs for Sinterklaas. Often they put a carrot or some hay for the horse of St. Nicholas (her name is Amerigo). The next morning, children find small gifts in their shoes: chocolate coins, a package of marmalade, or a small toy.

On the night of December 5th, Sinterklaas brings gifts to every child who behaved well last year (in practice, to all children). Usually Nikolai leaves a bag with a gift outside the house or living room, after which neighbors or parents drag him inside through the door or window, as if Sinterklaas's helpers. Another version of presenting the gift is to ask someone to dress up as Sinterklaas and give gift to the child personally.

In Germany on the night of December 5-6, children hang out shoes (Nikolaus-Stiefel), or socks, which St. Nicholas fills with gifts, assessing whether the owners behaved well. If the children were not obedient, then instead of gifts, there may be three branches (roots) in the shoe. In anticipation of the holiday, children try not to be naughty, and no one is left without gifts from St. Nicholas.

The Czech and Slovak Mikulas, as well as the Polish Mikolajka, are often accompanied by an angel fighting the devil.

In Hungary and Romania children usually leave their shoes on the windowsill on the night of December 6th. The next morning, Nikolai (Szent Miklos or Mikulas in Hungary, Mos Nicolae or Sfantul Nicolae in Romania) puts candy and souvenirs in them if they were good, or a branch if they misbehaved.

In France St. Nicholas Day is actively celebrated in the eastern part of the country. Particularly revered is St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Lorraine, where he is considered a patron saint. Here, in the small town of San Nicolas de Port, there is the Basilica of San Nicolas, which houses the right hand (according to other sources, the finger) of St. Nicholas and other shrines associated with him. St. Nicholas Day, which has been celebrated since the Middle Ages, is the official holiday of the region.

On this day in the evening, a festive procession leaves the center of San Nicolas de Port and moves with music and fanfare through the main streets of the city. The procession is led by a venerable old man with a white beard (St. Nicholas), who is accompanied by a ghost with an armful of rods to flog disobedient children. He takes them into his wicker bag. Local residents, having heard the sounds of celebrations from afar, go out to "meet" St. Nicholas, and the children receive sweets.

in Italy on December 6, there is a tradition called "Rito delle nubili", which is still observed in the city of Sassiri, whose patron saint is St. Nicholas. Here, gifts are given to young brides during the day. A fair is held in the city of Trieste, and on the morning of the 6th, children are given gifts.

In Portugal St. Nicholas has been revered since the Middle Ages as the patron of students. Every year from November 29 to December 7, a festival called Nicolinas takes place in honor of Saint Nicholas.

In Albania the feast of the saint, known as the feast of St. Nicholas of Winter, is celebrated on the eve of December 6 - in the evening of December 5. On the eve of the holiday, Albanians light candles and fast in anticipation of midnight, when roasted lamb or pork is served on the table. Then people greet each other with the words "Let the Night of St. Nicholas help you!".

In Canada and the United States of America St. Nick's Day is celebrated in traditions similar to German. On the night of December 6, children leave an empty shoe (or sock) outside and on the morning of December 6, they wake up and rush to check what St. Nick put in their shoes with candy or souvenirs go to the "good" children, and shoes with coal to the "bad" ones.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources