You put your shoes out on the evening of December 5 , the night before Saint Nicholas Day, so that they’re filled with little gifts by the morning of December 6.

Basic timing

  • Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6 in many Christian and European traditions.
  • The custom is to set shoes out before going to bed on December 5, often called St. Nicholas Eve.
  • Children then wake up on December 6 to find small treats and gifts in their shoes.

Where to put the shoes

  • Common spots are by the fireplace , near a door, on a windowsill, or outside the bedroom door.
  • Some families place just one boot; others put out a pair of shoes for each child.

Little tradition details

  • Many families have kids clean or polish their shoes on December 5 before setting them out.
  • Shoes are usually filled with small items like fruit (often oranges), chocolates, coins, or tiny toys, echoing older legends of Saint Nicholas’s secret gift-giving.

Variations and local customs

  • In the Benelux countries and parts of Germany and Central Europe, the shoe tradition is especially strong and marks the early start of the festive season.
  • Some families adapt the date slightly or repeat the tradition on a nearby weekend for convenience, but the classic answer to “when do you put shoes out for Saint Nicholas Day” is still the night of December 5.

TL;DR: Put your shoes out on the night of December 5 so Saint Nicholas can fill them by the morning of December 6.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.