St. Nicholas Day (Mikolajki) 6th December

On St. Nicholas Day, December 6th, the youngsters are visited by Santa Claus (Sw. Mikolaj). In Poland, Sw. Mikolaj is not an oversized man with red pompom topped cap, red Jacket, and riding boots. Instead, he is a saintly, more dignified figure, dressed in the regal purple and gold robe, wearing a cape and bishops hat, and carrying a crosier (a crooked staff, the symbol of his bishop station). He travels the countryside on foot, occasionally astride a white horse, blessing the children, and distributing goodies to well behaved children and swishes (rozgi) to the naughty. Sw. Mikolaj does not live at the North Pole, but up in Heaven.

December sixth, St. Nicholas day — Dzien Swietego Mikolaja — brought a slight reprieve to gray monotonous days, especially to children, who felt that the Christmas Gwiazdka (star) - would never come. St. Nicholas was revered because of his compassion and love for orphans whom he often visited and comforted with little gifts. His name is celebrated more in some Central European countries than is Christmas itself.

I don't think this happens in England so much now- Is this celebrated in any special way in Poland??

Growing up in London, I know that at school all the English kids were envious that Polish kids got presents twice at Christmas :o) ..... once on 6th December and then again on Wigilia, Christmas Eve :o)

Then again , maybe it's because Polish kids are better behaved throughout the year than English kids :o)))

This is a tradition that I have kept going with my kids, aged 5 yrs and 4 yrs - they are at an age where they still believe in Sw. Mikolaj and the magic of Christmas - on Christmas Eve we (Poles) are told the Christmas Angel delivers the presents we find under the Christmas tree.

Some people celebrate it in the US, but it's not a holiday and it's more popular in Poland.

the santa description is old school although many still celebrate dec 6th but it's on more of family level. santa is fat, jolly old fellow. hohoho

the tradion definitely calls for a present for the kids but also "requires" a letter to santa in exchange.

wow, now i know why my grandfather was named Mikolaj on his birth in poland on
december 6th...

listen to this folks.. alot of the same surname men I am doing family history on
have either died or were born on dec 6th or buried on same day..

this is really interesting.

Spooky

lol,, yeah this is only on one side of the family same last names.. because I am
researching all the same last name of different families.

now the St Nicolas makes sense to me with my grandfathers given name.

my oldest brother also shares same birthday as my grandfather ( deceased ).

none of us knew this till I started doing the family tree..

really spooky

Well at least you know when you'll die, if you're named Mikolaj and wasn't born on Dec 6.

;) - that sense of humour - what can I say?

My brother is married to a Polish woman (we are Polish-American), and they celebrate Sw. Mikolaj on Dec. 6th here in the US with presents. They DO NOT exchange gifts on Christmas! That is to celebrate Christ's birth and not commercial interests. This is a useful website if you want more information and stories about Sw. Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) himself: stnicholascenter.org

Very nice - thanks a lot! I'm going to pas this along to my family members. Our grandfather was named Mikolaj (although he was born in April).