Children around the world celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas by placing a shoe by the hearth, window or door on the eve of the Dec. 6 celebration for a gift of chocolate coins, candy canes, oranges and other treats.
In the Diocese of Charlotte, students lined the hallways of our Catholic schools with shoes in anticipation of St. Nicholas’ visit to their school.
Born in Lycia in Asia Minor around the late third or fourth century, St. Nicholas of Myra is more than just the inspiration for the modern-day Santa. As a young man he is said to have made a pilgrimage to Palestine and Egypt to study in the school of the Desert Fathers. On returning some years later he was almost immediately ordained Bishop of Myra, which is now Demre, on the coast of modern-day Turkey.
One of the most famous stories of the generosity of St. Nicholas says that he threw bags of gold through an open window in the house of a poor man to serve as dowry for the man’s daughters, who otherwise would have been sold into slavery.
The gold is said to have landed in the family’s shoes, which were drying near the fire. This began the tradition of children leaving their shoes out by the door, or hanging their stockings by the fireplace, in the hopes of receiving a gift on the eve of his feast.
— Photos by Troy Hull and provided
St. Nicholas came to Sacred Heart School in Salisbury on Dec. 6. In his spirit of giving, students left their shoes in the hallway for him to fill with goodies.
St. Nicholas came to Sacred Heart School in Salisbury on Dec. 6. In his spirit of giving, students left their shoes in the hallway for him to fill with goodies.
St. Nicholas came to Sacred Heart School in Salisbury on Dec. 6. In his spirit of giving, students left their shoes in the hallway for him to fill with goodies.
St. Nicholas came to Sacred Heart School in Salisbury on Dec. 6. In his spirit of giving, students left their shoes in the hallway for him to fill with goodies.
Immaculate Heart of Mary parish celebration
Immaculate Heart of Mary parish celebration
In Greensboro, St. Nicholas visited Our Lady of Grace school classrooms, accompanied by two angels and a peasant girl who shared his story with our students.
St. Nicholas visited Our Lady of Grace school classrooms, accompanied by two angels and a peasant girl who shared his story with our students.
St. Nicholas visited Our Lady of Grace school classrooms, accompanied by two angels and a peasant girl who shared his story with our students.
St. Nicholas visited Our Lady of Grace school classrooms, accompanied by two angels and a peasant girl who shared his story with our students.
The younger grades left one of their shoes in the hallway in hopes of receiving a present.
St. Nicholas also visited Our Lady of Grace Parish for a celebration after the 6 p.m. Mass Dec. 6.
St. Nicholas took time out of his feast day to visit our kindergarten through 4th grade at St. Mark School.
He read a special book to them by Jeanne Pieper titled, "A Special Place for Santa."
St. Nicholas took time out of his feast day to visit our kindergarten through 4th grade at St. Mark School.
The students left their shoes outside of their classrooms during the assembly and, much to their delight, found that St. Nicholas had left each of them a treat!
The students left their shoes outside of their classrooms during the assembly and, much to their delight, found that St. Nicholas had left each of them a treat!
At St. Matthew School in Charlotte, students placed their shoes in the hallway and they were filled with treats by St. Nicholas, who also visited with the children, teaching them about the true story of his life.
At St. Matthew School in Charlotte, students placed their shoes in the hallway and they were filled with treats by St. Nicholas, who also visited with the children, teaching them about the true story of his life.
At St. Matthew School in Charlotte, students placed their shoes in the hallway and they were filled with treats by St. Nicholas, who also visited with the children, teaching them about the true story of his life.
At St. Matthew School in Charlotte, students placed their shoes in the hallway and they were filled with treats by St. Nicholas, who also visited with the children, teaching them about the true story of his life.
At St. Matthew School in Charlotte, students placed their shoes in the hallway and they were filled with treats by St. Nicholas, who also visited with the children, teaching them about the true story of his life.
St. Nicholas came to St. Patrick School in Charlotte to leave treats for the students.
Holy Trinity Middle School celebrated St. Nicholas Day. Good ole' St. Nick visited our classroom and his helpers, Student Council members, delivered stockings to each classroom.
Holy Trinity Middle School celebrated St. Nicholas Day. Good ole' St. Nick visited our classroom and his helpers, Student Council members, delivered stockings to each classroom.
St. Nicholas left gifts for students and teachers at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
The chaplain of the Student Council at Immaculata read "St. Nicholas the Gift Giver" over the intercom.
Students at Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas by having their candy canes blessed.
The candy canes blessed at Our Lady of Mercy represent St. Nicholas' bishop's crozier.
St. Nicholas surprised Canongate High School students this week.
St. Nicholas surprised Canongate High School students this week.
Children around the world celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas by placing a shoe by the hearth, window or door on the eve of the Dec. 6 celebration for a gift of chocolate coins, candy canes, oranges and other treats.
