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Advent
St. Nicholas Day
Also called: Sinterklaas (Netherlands/Belgium), Nikolaustag (Germany), Feast of St. Nicholas
December 6 (fixed)
CatholicLutheranEastern OrthodoxPresbyterian
The feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (c.
270–343 AD), known for his generosity to the poor (including secretly providing dowries for three girls, throwing bags of gold through their window). It usually falls on or around December 6 (fixed).
It is especially important in Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian traditions. Find a retreat — browse options on Eden.
At a glance
- Type
- memorial
- Date type
- Fixed (same date every year)
- Regions
- Global, Eastern Europe
- Themes
- Saints & Martyrs
- Liturgical colour
- White
Common questions
St. Nicholas Day is observed on December 6 (fixed). Moveable feasts shift each year; fixed feasts stay on the same calendar date.
The feast of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (c. 270–343 AD), known for his generosity to the poor (including secretly providing dowries for three girls, throwing bags of gold through their window). St. Nicholas is the historical prototype of the modern "Santa Claus" figure (Sinterklaas → Santa Claus). In the Netherlands and Belgium, Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain on November 19, parades thro
It is associated with Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian. It falls in the Advent season of the liturgical year.
