There was a kindly nobleman, with a lovely wife, and
three pretty, young daughters and lots of money. But
the mother became very ill and died. The man, in his
great despair, wasted away his money on silly
projects and useless inventions. His family was
forced to move out of their castle and into a little
cottage. His daughters continued to grow up and
eventually fell in love and wished to marry. They
couldn't get married, however, because their father
was too poor to afford a dowry for even one of them.
Saint Nicolas lived in the same
area, and because he had dedicated his whole life to
doing good deeds and was always looking for someone
in true need, he came riding into town on his white
horse one night to find the nobleman's cottage. That
same night, the daughters had washed their clothing
and hung them to dry by the fireplace. Their three
pairs of stockings were hanging right on the
chimney. From his pouch, he took out three little
bags of gold coins and dropped them into the
stockings.
The nobleman heard a small
disturbance and rose to hear the horse trotting
away. He only got a small glimpse of the stranger.
The next morning, the daughters found their stocking
full of gold, enough to easily allow a generous
dowry and increase their family s general comfort.
Children all over the world now
hang their stockings ... at least in the British
Isles, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
In many European counties,
children also hang their stockings but they nail
them up the night before Saint Nicholas Day,
December 6th ... and so the tradition is somewhat
separated from the celebration of Christmas.
Children in France put their shoes
out on the hearth, a tradition that dates back to
when French children wore wooden peasant shoes.
In Holland, children fill their
shoes with hay and a carrot for the Saint's white
horse. In the night, Sintirklaas slides down the
chimney, gathers the hay for the horse and puts a
little present in each child s shoe.
In Italy, youngsters set out
their shoes for La Befana, the good witch.
St. Nick Obstacle Course
Before the circle time, have
children help set up an obstacle course using the
equipment and furniture in the classroom. At circle
time talk about how St. Nicholas travels from house
to house leaving goodies in each child's shoe.
Pretend (the children) to be St.
Nicholas. However before the children take off their
shoes and place them along the obstacle course. When
they are done give them a goodie to put in their
shoe, when they come to it, along the obstacle
course. Geth them started on the obstacle course
giving help as needed. When each child get to
his/her shoe they should leave the goodie. Talk
about how many children there are to visit while
they sleep. as they finish they may sit down with
their shoe and have their treat.
Creative thinking: "Pretend to be
St. Nick Decide what gifts to gather. What To put in
your bag, what the children might enjoy.
Felt Board: Cut out several
different size felt sacks. Put them on the felt
board. Discuss the sizes of presents that might fit
in each.
Contributed By
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