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CheckoutSt. Nicholas Day: history, traditions and shoes as a gift
6 December / 19 December
St. Nicholas Day at N-SHOES: history, traditions and shoes as a gift
Warm greetings on the bright feast of St. Nicholas!
May you and your family find in him a reliable protector and helper, may he keep you safe from trouble and misfortune, and may you always be healthy, successful and prosperous.
Happy holiday!
When St. Nicholas Day is celebrated
After the Orthodox Church of Ukraine adopted the Revised Julian calendar in 2023, the winter feast of St. Nicholas falls on 6 December. Many communities and families keep the older tradition and celebrate on 19 December under the Julian calendar. There is also a "spring St. Nicholas" — the feast marking the transfer of his relics to the Italian city of Bari.
For shoppers this means one practical thing: the gift season opens in early December. Choose footwear for a gift in advance — before the first wave of discounts and before the most popular sizes sell out.
6
6 December
Revised Julian calendar — the current date of the winter feast in Ukraine.
19
19 December
Julian calendar — the date several generations grew up with.
History
Who St. Nicholas was: a short and accurate summary
1
A real historical figure
Nicholas was born around 270 AD in Patara in Lycia — today part of Turkey. He came from a wealthy Christian family, lost his parents early and gave away his inheritance to those in need.
2
Bishop of Myra
He served as archbishop in the city of Myra, hence the title "of Myra". Accounts of numerous healings and rescues earned him the name Wonderworker.
3
6 December 343
The day of his death became the day of his veneration. The entire later European tradition of winter gift-giving is counted from this date.
4
1087: the relics move to Bari
Italian sailors carried the saint's relics from Myra to Bari, where the Basilica of St. Nicholas was built over them. Bari has been the main pilgrimage centre ever since, and the transfer of the relics is celebrated in spring.
5
Patron of travellers
Nicholas is regarded as the protector of sailors, merchants, travellers, students, the wrongly convicted and, of course, children. In Ukraine he is among the most venerated saints, with hundreds of churches dedicated to him.
Why it matters to us
Why gifts on St. Nicholas Day are placed inside shoes
The best-known legend tells of an impoverished man who had no dowry for his three daughters. Three times Nicholas tossed a small bag of gold into his home — through a window or down the chimney. The coins landed in stockings and shoes left to dry by the hearth. That is how a tradition still alive today was born.
Shoes are more than a seasonal gift. Historically they were the very first wrapping for St. Nicholas presents.
The Dutch Sinterklaas
In the Netherlands children still leave a shoe by the fireplace or the door with a carrot inside for the saint's horse. By morning the carrot has been replaced by a gift.
From Sinterklaas to Santa Claus
Dutch settlers brought Sinterklaas to New Amsterdam — the future New York. The name turned into Santa Claus, and the shoe gradually gave way to the Christmas stocking.
Figures and records
World records linked to the feast of St. Nicholas
18,112
people in Santa Claus costumes gathered in Thrissur, India, on 27 December 2014 — the standing Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Santa Clauses.
21.08 m
tall — the world's largest Santa Claus figure, built in Águeda, Portugal, on 12 December 2016.
1,683
years since 343 AD — one of the longest unbroken traditions of veneration in Europe.
No. 2
most frequently painted subject in icon art after the Virgin Mary is the image of St. Nicholas.
Ukrainian traditions of the feast
- A gift under the pillow. In Ukraine the present is traditionally placed under the pillow rather than in a shoe — although the European "shoe" version is returning to more and more homes.
- A twig for the naughty. Alongside sweets, children might find a symbolic switch — a gentle reminder about the past year's behaviour.
- Mykolaichyky. Honey gingerbread of a special shape, baked on the eve of the feast.
- Charity. The core tradition: schools, hospitals and communities collect gifts for the children who need them most.
- The start of the season. After St. Nicholas Day, Ukrainian families move on to preparing for Christmas and New Year.
Curious facts
- The red-and-white Santa suit was cemented in popular culture by American advertising in the 1930s, though the saint's own bishop's vestments were red as well.
- Three golden balls, the classic attribute in iconography, stand for those same bags of dowry gold.
- The saint is considered the patron of pawnbrokers: the three balls became their historic sign.
- A facial reconstruction based on the skull kept in Bari revealed a man with a broken nose — an injury mentioned in the accounts of his life.
- Nicholas is one of the few saints equally honoured by Catholics, Orthodox and Greek Catholics.
N-SHOES
Shoes as a St. Nicholas gift: what to choose at N-SHOES
N-SHOES is an online shoe store carrying Polish and Ukrainian brands. The catalogue covers women's and men's footwear in genuine leather and suede: fur-lined winter boots and sneakers, mid-season ankle boots, pumps, loafers and trainers. We have been trading since 2009, with a physical store in Kharkiv and delivery across Ukraine.
For women
Fur-lined winter boots and sneakers, leather mid-season ankle boots, suede pumps and loafers. Classics that stay in rotation for several seasons.
For men
Leather boots, everyday sneakers and suede trainers, formal models to wear with a suit. A practical gift with no risk of missing someone's taste.
Care and accessories
Leather and suede care products, insoles, brushes. A natural addition to the main gift, or a standalone option for someone who already owns a favourite pair.
How to get the size right when buying shoes as a gift
- Measure the insole of an existing pair. The most accurate method is the insole length of a favourite pair in centimetres, not the usual size number.
- Check the model's size chart. N-SHOES product pages list the insole length for every size along with the width of the last.
- Allow for winter room. Fur-lined footwear needs 0.5–1 cm of free space, otherwise the foot gets cold.
- Read the sizing notes. For models that run small we state separately that a larger size is recommended.
- In doubt, order two adjacent sizes. Try them on and return the pair that does not fit within the statutory period.
Questions and answers
Which date should I celebrate — 6 or 19 December?
The official date for churches on the Revised Julian calendar is 6 December. Many families still celebrate on 19 December. Both are entirely acceptable.
Is giving shoes as a gift bad luck?
The superstition linking shoes to separation has no historical basis. Quite the opposite: the shoe was the very first container for St. Nicholas gifts in Europe.
Will delivery arrive before the holiday?
Yes, if you order in advance. Courier services are under heavy load in December, so we recommend ordering at least 3–5 days before the date.
Can the gift be exchanged if the size is wrong?
Yes. Footwear of proper quality can be exchanged or returned within the statutory period provided the presentation, tags and packaging are intact.
Choose a gift from St. Nicholas
Women's and men's footwear in genuine leather and suede — in stock, with full size charts and fast delivery across Ukraine.
2025-12-06 00:01:00
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