The Feast of St Nicholas on the Farm

Today is St Nicholas Day, It is celebrated across Europe and the Middle East on December 6th.

He is the man most thought to be the inspiration behind Father Christmas himself

The story goes that a poor man could not afford gifts for his daughters so, to avoid embarrassment, St Nicholas flung three sacks of money into their house in the middle of the night.

He was made a saint for his charitable work and the stories change depending on which country tells them.

Some say he threw the money down the chimney and it landed in the socks which were hanging by the fire to dry (where hanging stockings comes from).

Some say he actually went down the chimney to deposit his charitable donation.

Others say he left the money in shoes or boots.

Indeed some countries leave little gifts for children in boots on St Nicholas Day and, living where we do, I thought this might be a nice tradition to adopt ourselves.

G had new wellies not so long ago because unlike normal homes where children grow out of wellies, here they get worn.

With holes in his boots and a wet autumn, I had to buy him new ones.

Bless her, Boo was much put out that her little brother got new wellies and she didn’t.

Being at school, hers don’t get as worn but her feet have grown so, for once, someone really has outgrown wellies rather than them getting worn out.

New wellies it is then and I thought we could give them to her on St Nicholas Day with some little treats inside.

As there are three children here, G’s wellies got cleaned up to be able to accept gifts without having sheep poo smeared on them.

It would be a waste of money buying wellies for the baby so I put a little gift for him in a sock.

I realise children get a lot of stuff for Christmas and buying more is probably not needed but here, a new pair of wellies and some warm wellie socks for the coldest of days is such a lovely and practical idea.

The little chocolates and Christmas colouring books were just a little extra.

I will try and hold out next year so that the both get new wellies on the same day.

Happy St Nicholas Day.

Happy new welly day.