St. Nicholas Day 2026: Date, Shoe Tradition and 40 Small Treat Ideas
St. Nicholas Day 2026 is Sunday 6 December, so children put their shoes out on the evening of Saturday 5 December and find small treats in them in the morning. It is also the second Sunday of Advent. Many Orthodox churches on the Julian calendar keep it on 19 December.
Key facts
- St. Nicholas Eve: Saturday 5 December 2026
- St. Nicholas Day: Sunday 6 December 2026
- Same date every year in the Western calendar
- Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra
Last updated 1 Nov 2026
St. Nicholas Day is one of the oldest and gentlest December traditions: children put out a shoe or boot at night and find it filled with small treats in the morning. In 2026 it falls on Sunday 6 December, which is also the second Sunday of Advent. That means shoes go out on the evening of Saturday 5 December, a weekend night, so nobody has to rush to school the next morning. Here is when and how families celebrate, where the custom comes from, and plenty of ideas for filling the shoe.
When is St. Nicholas Day 2026?
- St. Nicholas Eve: Saturday 5 December 2026. Shoes or boots go out before bed.
- St. Nicholas Day: Sunday 6 December 2026. Children check their shoes in the morning.
- Advent: Advent began on Sunday 29 November 2026, so 6 December is the second Sunday of Advent, the day families light the second candle on an advent wreath.
The date is the same every year in the Western calendar. Many Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar keep the feast on what is 19 December in the modern calendar.
Who was St. Nicholas?
Nicholas was a bishop of Myra, a town in what is now southern Turkey, in the fourth century. Very little is known for certain about his life, but he became famous for secret generosity. The best-known legend tells of a poor father who could not pay dowries for his three daughters. Nicholas threw bags of gold through the window at night, and in some versions they landed in stockings or shoes left by the fire to dry. That story is where the shoes, stockings and chocolate coins come from. Over the centuries the Dutch Sinterklaas travelled to America with settlers, and he is one of the figures that later grew into Santa Claus.
How different countries celebrate
| Country | Main night | What children do | Who visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Night of Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Clean a boot and put it outside the bedroom or front door | Nikolaus, sometimes with Knecht Ruprecht |
| Netherlands | Evening of Sat 5 Dec (pakjesavond) | Leave a shoe by the fireplace from mid-November, with a carrot or hay for the horse | Sinterklaas and his helpers |
| Belgium | Morning of Sun 6 Dec | Put out a shoe or a plate the night before | Sinterklaas / Saint-Nicolas |
| Austria | Sat 5 Dec (Krampusnacht), gifts on 6 Dec | Leave a shoe or boot out | Nikolaus with the horned Krampus |
| Czech Republic | Evening of Sat 5 Dec | Recite a poem or sing a song | Mikuláš with an angel and a devil |
| Poland | Sun 6 Dec (Mikołajki) | Find small gifts under the pillow or in a shoe | Święty Mikołaj |
| Hungary | Night of Sat 5 Dec | Polish boots and put them on the windowsill | Mikulás |
| USA (German, Dutch and Polish communities) | Night of Sat 5 Dec | Leave a shoe or stocking out for coins and sweets | St. Nicholas |
In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is a bigger event than Christmas for many families. Sinterklaas "arrives by steamboat" in mid-November, children put out their shoes on several evenings before the big night, and the main present-giving happens on 5 December with funny poems and surprise parcels. In Germany and Austria it is a smaller evening: one boot, a few treats, and sometimes a visit from Nikolaus himself, who asks whether the children have been good.
How to start the tradition at home
- Pick a shoe: a clean boot or a wellington holds the most. Some families keep a special felt boot or a wooden clog just for the night.
- Polish it together: in Germany and Hungary children clean their boots first. It is a nice, calm job for a Saturday afternoon.
- Put it out before bed: by the front door, the bedroom door, the fireplace or a windowsill.
- Leave something for the horse: a carrot, an apple or a little hay is the Dutch way, and it is gone in the morning.
- Keep it small: the charm is a handful of treats, not a second Christmas. A few coins, a satsuma and one tiny gift is the classic mix.
40 small treat ideas for the shoe
Traditional
- Chocolate coins
- A satsuma, mandarin or clementine
- Walnuts or hazelnuts in their shells (only for children old enough for nuts)
- A gingerbread or speculaas biscuit
- A chocolate St. Nicholas or Santa figure
- A chocolate letter, the Dutch way, with your child's initial
- A candy cane
- A small bag of pfeffernüsse or peppernuts
- A shiny apple
- A few real coins for the piggy bank
Little gifts
- Warm socks
- Gloves or mittens
- A hair clip or scrunchie
- A small torch for reading under the covers
- Stickers
- A mini notebook and pencil
- A bookmark
- A Christmas tree ornament with the year
- A bouncy ball
- A small puzzle
- A colouring pencil set
- A lip balm
- Bath crayons
- A keyring
- A small toy car or animal figure
For older children and teens
- A gift card in a small amount
- Their favourite sweets
- A phone grip or sticker
- Fancy hot chocolate
- Nail polish
- A cinema ticket voucher
- A pack of trading cards
- Lip gloss or hand cream
For adults and partners
- A good chocolate bar
- A mini bottle or a fancy tea
- A handwritten note
- A pair of cosy socks
- A coffee voucher
- A scented candle
- A small houseplant cutting
Keep it fair and stress-free
- Everyone gets the same: if several children put out shoes, give each the same mix so the morning is about the fun, not comparing.
- Plan it with your other countdowns: St. Nicholas Day falls on day 6 of most 24-day advent calendars, so put something lighter in that day's pocket.
- Small children and nuts: whole nuts and hard sweets are choking hazards for young children. Swap them for soft treats or a small toy.
- Pets: chocolate and raisins are toxic to dogs. Keep the shoes out of reach of the family dog overnight.
Quick FAQ
What date is St. Nicholas Day 2026? Sunday 6 December 2026. Shoes go out on the evening of Saturday 5 December.
Is St. Nicholas the same as Santa Claus? Santa Claus grew partly out of the Dutch Sinterklaas, so they share roots, but in many European countries they are still two separate visits: St. Nicholas on 5-6 December and Christmas presents later in the month.
What do you put in a St. Nicholas shoe? Traditionally chocolate coins, an orange or satsuma, nuts and a gingerbread biscuit, plus one small gift. Coal or twigs were the old warning for naughty children, now usually a joke.
Do you leave a shoe or a stocking? A shoe or boot in most of Europe. Stockings are more of a Christmas Eve custom in the UK and the US, though some families use one for both.
More December ideas: our guide to Christmas countdown traditions around the world covers Sinterklaas, Iceland's Yule Lads and more.