Children all over the world know him and love him. In Germany, he’s Kriss Kringle. In France, he’s Pere Noel. British children call him Father Christmas. Of course, you know him as Santa Claus.
He’s got another name, you know. It’s an ancient one that goes back hundreds of years. It's one of the very first names people called him: St. Nicholas.
- The Story of Saint Nicholas- The Real Santa
- Saint Nicholas The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer
- Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa
- Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
- Away in a Manger
- Rockin' Old St. Nicholas
- St. Nicholas Feast Day Hymn
- Saint Stories for Kids: Ep. 48 St Nicholas
- When St. Nicholas knew someone needed help, he tried to do something about it. Can you think of someone you know who needs help? What can you do for this person?
- Can you think of anybody like Nicholas living today?
- What were some of the wonderful things St. Nicholas did to help other people? Why do you think he did these things? How can you bring the spirit of Nicholas into Christmas this year?
Prayer in honor of Saint Nicholas:
We thank you for good Saint Nicholas who was known for his love and care for children.
Through his intercession, we ask you to help us always to take care of children, to protect and guide them, and to keep them safe. Help us to be open to all that children can teach us about the pure joy and unconditional love. May we in turn help our children to grow into the beautiful persons that you created them to be. Keep us mindful of the needs of others and reach out with love and generosity as Saint Nicholas did. We rejoice in your servant Nicholas and pray that we too may follow you with singleness of heart and mind.
Amen.
- Ask the pastor or other member of the pastoral staff for a list of names of those who are unable to come to Mass and who are visited in their homes by a priest or eucharistic minister. Have the children make cards, write letters, draw pictures, or make artificial flowers to send to each person on the list.
- Ask the children to draw a picture of one way they can help others.
- Make a collage entitled “The Spirit of St. Nicholas.” Ask the children to look through old magazines and cut out pictures of people being kind to each other. Paste the pictures on a large poster and hang the poster up in the classroom.
