Do Catholics give eachother gifts on the 6th to celebrate St. Nick? Or is my boyfriend just trying for a gift, he says it's tradition, and I'm gullable so I already have him a gift just wondering if it was true :)
Thank you!!!
2007-12-05 07:14:35 · 38 answers · asked by Justin 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Don't be so gullible.
If you feel obligated to get him a gift because of a particular day, then do it. Otherwise tell him you don't believe in that bull-hooey.
2007-12-05 23:19:08 · answer #1 · answered by timbers 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Saint Nicolas, in French, or Sinterklaas in Dutch is indeed celebrated on the 6th of December. But it is not a Catholic tradition, it is a Dutch and Belgian one.
According to the legend, St Nicholas was a bishop of Asia Minor who did much good for children. The Dutch/Belgian story says that he comes from Spain, by ship, every year, together with his helper the Black Pete, riding a donkey, to give presents to children during the night to the 6th.
When I was a child in Belgium, in the 50s, we got presents on St Nicholas' day but none on Christmas that was mostly a religious celebration and midnight Mass. Today, Dutch and Belgian children get present at both St Nicholas and Christmas and they even start celebrating Halloween the American way.
Incidentally, the modern Santa Claus is a -made in USA - mixture of the Dutch Sinterklaas, a bit of the Scandinavian Julenisse (Christmas gnome) and he got his red suit from Coca-Cola ads!
2007-12-05 07:26:18 · answer #2 · answered by Michel Verheughe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Two complications here - Epiphany - the supposed arrival of the wise men at Bethlehem, 12 days after Christmas, is a Catholic event. The song 12 Days of Christmas records the fact that Christmas was a Mass for the Christ child and gifts were given from then to Epiphany or on the latter date.
The Orthodox church still uses the unadjusted calendar - Gregorian instead of Julian - which is now about 12 days out of synch with the sun and the rest of us. So for the last century and until the missing leap year of 2100, December 25th and Christmas fall on our January 6th, at which point it wall fall on the 6th for a century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(Christian)
2007-12-05 07:26:21 · answer #3 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't discount it completely - Perhaps this is a ritual or tradition that his family started on the feast day of St. Nicholas as a prelude to kick off the holiday festivites. Go along with the "tradition" and play it by ear. You'll know if he's joking or not with the gift you get in return.
2007-12-05 07:34:20 · answer #4 · answered by Flirtini 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This was traditional growing up in our hometown (a lot of Polish, Russion, Slavic, etc. Catholic groups) but was not a gift per se, but stockings that were filled with oranges, candy and a small toy. We did not put out stockings at Christmas but did it the night of the 6th and woke up on the 7th of December to have them filled. If he is talking about January, he may be Russian Orthodox catholic, which follows a slightly different calendar and has Christmas later.
2007-12-05 07:18:16 · answer #5 · answered by magdarra 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Germans celebrat St. Nicklous day on the 6th of Decemer. They give each other presents then instead of on Christmas. Perhaps other countries in Europe (Poland, Switzerland, etc.) do the same? His family's tradition may stem from the "old country".
I can see giving presents then, if that is the family tradition, but it would be an either/or type scenario (either you get your present on St. Nick's day or Christmas - not both).
2007-12-05 07:18:46 · answer #6 · answered by Damocles 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My kids hung up their stocking last night and got gold-covered chocolate coins for St. Nicholas day today. Because he saved three poverty-stricken sisters from being sold into slavery by throwing bags full of gold down their chimney at night -- the dowry money they needed to be married.
It's more of a tradition in Europe than in the U.S. to give gifts on St. Nicholas's Feast Day, but it's becoming more commonplace here.
2007-12-06 05:15:15 · answer #7 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I'm the boyfriend! And no I'm not a liar, greedy, or in search of another present for those of you who suggested otherwise. For those of you who answered on my behalf thank you. I am a Catholic and, like my supporters, have celebrated St. Nick Day every year on Dec. 6th. Had I been pulling his leg because I wanted a present, I would've bought it myself.
2007-12-06 10:56:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't give each other gifts but, we do tell the kids to put a show on the front porch and that over night St. Nick will fill it with candy. Magically, every year, it happens!
2007-12-05 07:17:09 · answer #9 · answered by Itsa Secret 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know all my catholic friends celebrate Christmas on the 24 and 25th of Dec. Like I do. Maybe it is a tradition for your boyfriend and his family to do it on the 6th. My husband's family used to get together early and go out for dinner and open presents after. It was done to accomodate everyone's work and holiday plans.
2007-12-05 07:19:41 · answer #10 · answered by London Catlover 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, this is not typically done.
If he insists, then you need to insist on getting a gift each of the 12 days of Christmas (Christmas Day and the next 11 days following).
2007-12-05 09:00:54 · answer #11 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋