St Nicholas Day · Ruz-e Sant Nikolas

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · Eastern Orthodox (new calendar) · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

St Nicholas Day honours Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, famous for secret gift-giving: in the best-known story he threw bags of gold through a poor man's window as dowries for his daughters. He is the origin of Sinterklaas and, through him, of Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Poland children put out their shoes or boots and find sweets and small gifts in them on the eve or in the morning.