when is st nicholas day

St. Nicholas Day is most commonly celebrated on December 6 each year in Western Christian traditions.

Main date

• In most Western Christian countries, St. Nicholas Day (the Feast of St. Nicholas) is on December 6.

• Many people also mark the eve, the night of December 5 , by leaving out shoes or stockings to be filled with small gifts or sweets.

Eastern Christian date

• In some Eastern Christian churches that still use the older Julian calendar, St. Nicholas Day falls on what is December 19 in the modern (Gregorian) calendar.

• In those communities, this is often a major feast and can even be the main gift-giving day instead of Christmas.

Quick tradition snapshot

• The day honors St. Nicholas of Myra, a 4th‑century bishop known for generosity and gift‑giving, especially to children.

• Common customs include:
  • Putting out shoes or stockings on Dec 5.

* Receiving small gifts like coins, cookies, or candy on Dec 6.

TL;DR: St. Nicholas Day is on December 6 (or December 19 in some Eastern churches), with many traditions happening the night before.