St Nicholas Day: 10 Small Gift Ideas for Kids (and the Tradition Explained)
On December 6, weeks before Santa Claus, St Nicholas visits homes in eastern and northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany. On the night of December 5, children leave out their shoes or slippers, and in the morning they find sweets and a small gift inside. Here is where the tradition comes from, how to prepare the night, and 10 simple St Nicholas gift ideas sorted by age and budget.
At a glance
- When: the night of December 5; gifts are found on the morning of December 6.
- Where: Lorraine, Alsace, Franche-Comté, the Ardennes and northern France, plus Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.
- The idea: small gifts and treats, not the big Christmas presents.
- Usual budget: a few euros up to about €20 per child.
Who was St Nicholas?
St Nicholas is based on a real man: Nicholas of Myra, a bishop born around 270 AD in Patara, in what is now Turkey. He is said to have died on December 6, 343, which is why the feast falls on that date. His relics were taken to Bari, Italy, in 1087, and a fragment later reached Lorraine, in eastern France.
Since 1477 and the Battle of Nancy, St Nicholas has been the patron saint of Lorraine. He is also the protector of children and schoolchildren, thanks to a famous legend in which he brings three little children back to life. Every year, a torchlight procession takes place in the basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, near Nancy, on the Saturday closest to December 6.
Father Whipper, the donkey and the shoes: the traditions
St Nicholas is dressed as a bishop, with a mitre, a crozier and a long red cape. He travels with his donkey (a white horse in the Netherlands and Flanders) and with Père Fouettard, or "Father Whipper", a dark companion who scolds naughty children. Today Father Whipper is mostly folklore: he may hand out a lump of coal as a joke, not to frighten anyone.
On the evening before, children set their shoes or slippers by the fireplace, the front door or their bedroom door. They often leave a carrot for the donkey and a drawing or letter for St Nicholas. In the morning, the carrot has gone and the shoes are full.
What traditionally goes in the shoes:
- gingerbread, often shaped like St Nicholas;
- oranges, clementines, apples and dried fruit;
- chocolates and sweets;
- in Alsace, manalas (small brioche figures);
- in Belgium, speculoos biscuits and cougnous (sweet bread);
- in Luxembourg, boxemännchen, brought by St Nicholas, known there as Kleeschen.
In the Netherlands and Flanders he is called Sinterklaas. In many schools in Lorraine and Alsace, a costumed St Nicholas visits the children, and parades are held in towns such as Nancy and Metz.
St Nicholas vs Santa Claus: what's the difference?
Santa Claus largely grew out of St Nicholas: in America, the Sinterklaas of Dutch settlers became Santa Claus. In families that celebrate both, the roles stay distinct:
| St Nicholas | Santa Claus | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Night of December 5 to 6 | Night of December 24 to 25 |
| Outfit | Bishop: mitre, crozier, cape | Red suit and hat |
| Companion | The donkey and Father Whipper | Reindeer and elves |
| Where gifts go | In shoes or slippers | Under the tree |
| Kind of gift | Treats and a small gift | Main presents |
The simplest rule: keep St Nicholas Day for small treats and keep Christmas for the bigger presents.
10 small St Nicholas Day gift ideas
1. A St Nicholas gingerbread figure
The classic gift. Buy one from a bakery or bake it with the children on the afternoon of December 5, using a gingerbread-man cutter and white icing for the beard. For all ages, from a few euros.
2. A traditional treat basket
Clementines, walnuts, dried figs, St Nicholas chocolates, and your local specialty: manalas, speculoos or cougnous. Put it all in the shoes or in a small reusable cloth bag.
3. A book about the St Nicholas legend
A picture book for ages 2-6, or a longer story for ages 7-10. Read it together on the evening of December 5, before the shoes go out: children love the ritual.
4. A personalized poster with the child's name
A small gift that lasts longer than chocolate: a personalized poster with the child's name to decorate their room all year. You fill in the form on the product page and receive the file by email within 24 hours, 7 days a week, weekends included. Corrections are free if a detail is not right. Print it and frame it, or roll it up with a ribbon and tuck it into the slipper.
Timing tip: order by December 4 at the latest to leave time for printing. For more ways to present it, read how to gift a digital poster so it never looks cheap.
5. A new pair of slippers
Practical and fitting: St Nicholas brings new winter slippers, already filled with treats. Great for ages 1-5, who change shoe size often.
6. A small card or board game
A quick card game, a memory game or a little observation game from age 4. It fits in a shoe and gives the family something to play on the evening of the 6th.
7. A winter craft kit
St Nicholas colouring pages, stickers, modelling clay, fuse beads… A kit keeps children busy on December weekends. For ages 3-8.
8. A letter from St Nicholas
Write a short letter signed by St Nicholas, praising one thing the child achieved this year (riding without stabilisers, reading, being kind to a little brother). Seal it with red wax and the magic works. Free, and often the gift they keep the longest.
9. A winter accessory
A hat, mittens, warm socks or a scarf in St Nicholas colours, red and white. A useful gift, topped up with a few chocolates to keep the festive feel.
10. A trip to a St Nicholas parade
The gift is the moment: watch the parade in Nancy, Metz or a nearby town, or the procession at Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. If you don't live in the region, a visit to a Christmas market on the weekend of December 6 works well too.
St Nicholas gift ideas by age
| Age | Ideas that work | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | New slippers, board book, name poster for the nursery | €5 to €20 |
| 3-5 years | Gingerbread, legend picture book, sticker kit, letter from St Nicholas | €5 to €15 |
| 6-8 years | Small card game, craft kit, personalized poster, parade outing | €5 to €20 |
| 9-12 years | Hat or accessory, quick board game, treat basket | €10 to €20 |
How to prepare the night of December 5
- On the evening of the 5th, read the St Nicholas story and let the children put out their slippers, a carrot for the donkey and a drawing.
- Once they are asleep, take a bite of the carrot (leave a trace), fill the slippers and add the small gift.
- For extra magic, leave a short letter from St Nicholas or a little "stardust" (icing sugar) on the windowsill.
- On the morning of the 6th, let them find the slippers before breakfast: hot chocolate and gingerbread.
To decorate your home from early December, browse our Christmas and winter posters to print, available as instant downloads, such as the set of 3 "My First Christmas" posters personalized with the child's name, featuring a gingerbread house.
FAQ – St Nicholas Day
When are St Nicholas Day gifts given?
Children put out their slippers on the evening of December 5 and find their gifts on the morning of December 6. In some families, especially in Belgium, a shoe is left out on several evenings before the 6th for a chocolate or a clementine.
Where is St Nicholas Day celebrated?
In France, mainly in Lorraine, Alsace, Franche-Comté, the Ardennes and the north. Abroad, in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
How much should I spend on a St Nicholas gift?
St Nicholas Day is about small gifts: from a few euros to about €20 per child, treats included. Bigger presents are usually kept for Christmas.
Do I have to give gifts on both St Nicholas Day and Christmas?
No. Families who celebrate both often give treats and a small gift on December 6, then the main presents on December 25.
What do you put in St Nicholas shoes?
Gingerbread, clementines, chocolates, dried fruit and a small gift: a book, a card game, a winter accessory or a poster with the child's name.
Who is Father Whipper (Père Fouettard)?
He is St Nicholas's companion in folklore, said to scold naughty children. Today he mostly appears in parades and stories, with no intention of scaring anyone.
Will a personalized poster arrive in time for December 6?
Yes. Personalized posters are sent by email within 24 hours, 7 days a week. Order by December 4 at the latest to have time to print it and tuck it into the slippers. Instant-download posters are available right after purchase.
Sources
- Press kit "La Saint-Nicolas en Lorraine", Lorraine Tourisme
- Saint Nicholas in Lorraine, Nancy Tourist Office
- Sankt Nikolaus teaching sheet, Académie de Nancy-Metz
Article by Atelier Salad-Dressing Paris – printable posters and personalized posters for home decor and gifts.