You've Been Saint Nicked

It was a most peculiar day indeed. It was our first Saint Nicholas Feast Day in our new home back on December 6th, 2003. Morning came and the children were once again delighted that even in the new house Saint Nicholas found their shoes and filled them with treats on his very special day. We were just settling down to begin our schooling when the door bell rang. I opened the door and saw nothing but footprints leading to and from our door in the freshly fallen snow. Wonder who would be playing tricks this time of day since all of the other children in the neighborhood are in school by now I thought to myself. Just as I was about to close the door a little white bag decorated with red ribbon and Christmas stamps that was sitting on the step caught my eye. Cautiously I picked up the bag and brought it inside.

Inside the bag were numerous homemade confections and cookies with a little note that read, "In the Spirit of Saint Nicholas of Myra, You've been Saint Nicked." My children were delighted. Eight more times that day our door-bell rang. Eight more times there were only foot prints and similar bags with assorted treats. All of them labeled with the same type of message.

"Have a Blessed Saint Nicholas Day! You've been Saint Nicked!" "Happy Saint Nicholas Feast Day!" "In the Spirit of Saint Nicholas of Myra, You've been Saint Nicked."

Many of them had coloring sheets, or holy cards of Saint Nicholas inside. One had a Saint Nicholas Paper Doll, and all of them had an explanation of who this saint was.

I asked around the home school group the next day, but all pretended to know nothing about it. Finally a close friend winked at me and told me that another mother had brought the tradition of "Saint Nicking" about 3 years before when they had first moved to the city. The tradition took off amongst many of the parish families and it had become quite a sport with the kids to see whether or not they would get caught. The tradition had spread to not just "Saint Nicking" other home school families, but other friends, relatives, the parish priest, and unsuspecting neighbors. It had become quite the evangelizing tool as well as being a lot of fun all done in secret to celebrate a wonderful saint.

Since that first Saint Nicholas Day here, Our family has joined in the fun too! Even my husband has gotten into the act by going with us on more difficult houses, mapping routes, and even helping to package. We look forward to this every year. Sometimes its quite a challenge. Just last night I found a treat bag on my pillow. How it got there I don't know. What are your favorite Saint Nick Traditions?

God Bless,

Maggie

Our Plans for Advent

The Advent Wreath
Last year was the first time we ever used a hanging Advent Wreath and I absolutely loved it. This year we changed it a little. Last years wreath was thrown together at the last minute. I used a plastic Christmas plate that had four holes punched in it equally spaced. Then I attached white ribbon (it was all I had) to each hole and hung it from a plant hook on the ceiling in front of our kitchen window.I placed our gold advent candle holder on the plate so that the candles would fall in the center of the hanging ribbons. I put simple greenery around the candle holder to form a wreath. It was simple and sweet, but I much prefer lovely!

This years wreath is hanging like last years, but I really wanted it to look more eloquent. We found a large wooden unfinished plate at a local craft store. Rita Chew painted it with several coats of purple paint and then finished it with a lovely glitter glaze. My husband put eye hooks in it and hung it with purple ribbon. We used the same gold advent candle holder surrounded by a green wreath. I wrapped the wreath with lovely purple ribbon trimmed with gold and finished it with a pretty bow made of the same ribbon. I do have to say I much preferred last years candles. The color was so much richer.

The Jesse Tree

This years Jesse tree is the same except I used the same purple gold trimmed ribbon on it. We use a small plastic Christmas tree for our Jesse tree. It has special meaning because when we first moved here from Dayton all of our Christmas stuff was in storage. The place we were staying at was too small for a large tree so my husband brought home this small one on Christmas eve to his depressed wife who couldn't imagine a Christmas celebrated without the trimmings. The tacky pink star that is on top is the same star that was at the top of our Christmas tree every year while I was growing up. I can't seem to part with it. Our Jesse Tree Ornaments are a mixture. Each figure has symbols that we hand made or found ornaments for. Last year I bought the Catholic Artworks complete set of Teachers Helper CDs. I love them. They have wonderful cards that can be printed and colored to hang on your Jesse tree. But I have used them for so much more.

Prepare

I also painted wooden letters for the mantle this year like I had seen here and here.

Reading Baskets

We are using Advent reading suggestions from here and here. For us Advent is light in school and heavy with fun activities.

Holy Heroes Advent Adventure

For the past few years we have really enjoyed Holy Heroes Advent Adventure. Although our Jesse Tree ornaments are already made, my children still love watching the videos and doing the activities.

Other Customs we have:

All through Advent the children prepare for the coming of Jesus by adding hay for each act of charity to the manger on our main altar so hopefully Baby Jesus will have a soft bed.

On Dec 1st Mary and Joseph begin to travel all over the house........ on their way to Bethlehem. My children take turns each day moving them and on Christmas Eve they end up at the manger.

We celebrate the O' Antiphons but this year I hope to make better ornaments for our Jesse Tree and possibly an O' Antiphon House if I can find the supplies.

The day after Christmas the Wise Men begin to travel all over the house in the same manor that Mary and Joseph did finally reaching their destination on the feast of the Epiphany.

Our favorite feast during the season of Advent is the Feast of Saint Nicholas. I plan to share more about this and our activities in another post.

Favorite Sites for ideas on Feast Day Celebrations

Shower of Roses
Waltzing Matilda
In the Heart of My Home

These Ladies have really blessed me by sharing their ideas and celebrations. Thank You!

Have a Blessed Advent!


Maggie

The Feast of Saint Micheal, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Rahael, Archangels

As we did last year, yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Archangels as it is on the General Roman (and United States) Calendar. Many celebrate the traditional Michaelmas day from the old calendar. Both ways are acceptable I think. I love this feast because I feel especially close to these Holy Angels. We began our day praying the Chaplet of Saint Michael during Morning Prayer. Then the children colored pictures of the Archangels from Charlotte's blog. Later we enjoyed a treat in honor of Saint Michael. I got the idea of the Devils Food cupcakes from Jessica...........but I have to say her display is darling. We began to have a special devotion to the Archangels about 3 years ago after our first visit to the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama. Since then we ask for their intercession daily and kneel to pray the Saint Michael Prayer after Mass for the Church. I read a beautiful book just after my visit to the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament called Sons of Light by Mother M. Angelica. I highly recommend it. You could probably get it if you wrote to the Shrine.

God Bless,

Mags