Celebrating St. Nick's is a strong German influence in Milwaukee. It's like Friday fish fries and custard. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of a long list of types of people including children, bakers, merchants, sailors, newlyweds, and shoe shiners. He lived in the 4th century and some of his greater feats during his colorful life include reviving murder victims and rescuing women from a life of prostitution. Saint Nicholas is the figure who evolved into the legend of Santa Claus and is known for his secret gift-giving. In Germany, children would leave a boot outside the front door on the night of December 5th in hopes of it being filled with gifts on Dec. 6 morning. Milwaukee is a strong German community and many Germans who came to this state brought the St. Nick tradition along with them.
When I was younger we always knew when St Nick came. Our grandmother's birthday was on December 5th. We knew when we came home that night that we had to hang our sock on the bed post. When we woke the next morning our socks were stuffed full with all different types of candy, apples and oranges.
I've carried on the tradition with my children. For years I got them the storybook of lifesavers along with little trinkets and Christmas candy. When we moved to Rockford the kids would tell their friends of what St. Nick brought them. They found out no one else got gifts from St. Nick. I talked to neighbors and friends and realized that was not a holiday celebrated in Illinois. Well it was a holiday we continued to celebrate.
Well my kids are now grown. Do you think it's time to stop this tradition? Nope.
Happy St. Nick's day!
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