St. Nicholas Day | A Gift for December 6

St. Nicholas Day falls on December 6. It is a chance to remember the saint whose generosity still shapes the way many families mark the season.

Who was St. Nicholas of Myra?

Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra, in what is now Türkiye. He is remembered for caring for people in need, especially through the story of his secretly providing money to help three daughters of a poor family avoid destitution. Christian tradition also remembers him as a defender of the Church’s teaching about Christ against Arianism. Later accounts place him at the Council of Nicaea in 325, though his attendance is not firmly documented. The popular tale that he struck Arius should be understood as legend, not established history.

From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus

Devotion to St. Nicholas spread through many cultures. The Dutch Sinterklaas tradition helped shape the name and figure of Santa Claus in America, where it blended with other Christmas customs. In some European St. Nicholas traditions, children leave shoes or boots out on the eve of December 6 and find small gifts or treats in them the next morning. Some Catholic families draw on that custom to exchange gifts on his feast day instead of on Christmas, allowing the focus of Advent leading up to Christmas to be filled with prayer and preparing their hearts for Christmas if secular commercialization of the season distracts them from Christ's nativity. Regardless of when your family chooses to exchange gifts, participating in the St. Nicholas feast day tradition is a fun way to remember who St. Nicholas really is, and the most valuable gift of eternal life Christ gives us. 

Celebrate the feast day and the season

St. Nicholas Beard Balm brings orange, warm holiday spices, and black spruce to an everyday grooming routine. It is a simple gift for someone who appreciates the tradition and a good beard balm.

Remember to place your order in time to prepare your gift for December 6th!