St. Nicholas Day Traditions

St. Nicholas Day will be here before we know it! On the eve of St. Nicholas we attend Vespers and then come home to read his story.We've also recently adopted the tradition of leaving our shoes out for St. Nicholas to fill with little treats. I usually leave a book, some candies or trinkets and a gold coin. We usually have Liturgy in the morning so it's always fun to get up early, check our shoes and prepare for Liturgy. I like to include the book because Ace always wants to bring one of his new treats with him and I don't mind taking a book to church. The "gold" coin I usually leave is just a brass coin that we save and Ace puts inside the Vasilopita on St. Basil's feastday (Jan.1).But last year I found these little chocolate gold coins from Paidea Classics. I think they're wonderful! They say St. Nicholas of Myra on them which is so nice but I really like that they don't have an icon on them. This way I don't have to worry about throwing the wrappers away. Last year I wrapped a few up in a tiny piece of canvas fabric and made it look like the sack of gold St. Nicholas might have left as the dowry for the 3 daughters.The coins are available in lots of 3, 12 or 24 and come in milk, dark and mint chocolate. I get a larger pack and save them for next year. They store well if in an airtight container.One thing I plan to order that I found through Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian organization that aids Christians being persecuted around the globe, is the book The Story of St. Nicholas: More than Reindeer and a Red Suit. This is not an Orthodox organization but is supported by many Orthodox Churches. I have followed them for almost 10 years and I find it incredibly worthy (not that my opinion is worth anything). Read the description of the story and you'll see for yourself. They describe St. Nicholas not only as a giver but as a Defender of the Faith, which in reality is what he was.Here's a recipe for Lenten sugar cookies too. We have so much fun making cookies and sugar cookies are the best!

LENTEN SUGAR COOKIES

yeilds about 3 dozenINGREDIENTS:

• 1 3/4 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 2 T. margarine, softened
• 2 T. oil
• 1/2 T.EnerG egg replacer beaten frothy with 2 T. water
• 2 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl.
2. In a large bowl, combine margarine, sugar and oil and beat with electric mixer on low speed til creamy.Add egg replacer and vanilla and beat well.
3. Add dry ingredients in 4 additions, beating on low speed and scraping down sides after each addition.Do not over-beat.Divide dough in half.
4. Roll out each piece(dusted generously with flour) between two sheets of waxed paper to 1/8”. Transfer dough, still in paper, to baking sheets and chill in freezer 20 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper and spray with oil on nonstick spray.
6. Cut cookies with 2 and 1/2” cutter.Re-roll scraps.Place cookies 1” apart on prepared sheets.If decorating with colored sugar, sprinkle on now.
7. Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, with rack in upper third of oven, 7-9 minutes, or til lightly colored.Cool pans on racks thoroughly before removing cookies.
8. Decorate as desired.

Here are some Orthodox Coloring Pages of St. Nicholas for your little ones to enjoy as well!My sister-in-law and I made these little slippers with our kids a couple of years ago. Ace still hangs his on his bedroom door every year. The project is from the St. Nicholas Center's website. Again, it's not an Orthodox site but there is a lot of Orthodox ideas, materials, etc on there if you have time to sift through everything. There's A LOT of information! Share your ideas and traditions for St. Nicholas Day with us!!