Saint Nick’s Day, also called Saint Nicholas Day, is celebrated on December 6 in most Western Christian traditions.

Date at a glance

  • In Western Christian countries, Saint Nicholas Day is on December 6 each year.
  • Many people treat the evening of December 5 as “St. Nick’s Eve,” when children leave out shoes or stockings to find small gifts in them the next morning.
  • In some Eastern Christian traditions that follow the older Julian calendar, St. Nicholas Day is observed on December 19 (which corresponds to December 6 in that older calendar).

Quick background

Saint Nick’s Day honors Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th‑century bishop known for generosity, especially toward children and the poor.

Customs like filling shoes or stockings with small treats on this day are one of the roots of the modern Santa Claus gift‑giving tradition.

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