St Nicholas Day holds a special place of importance in Catholic homes, especially those with little children. As the patron saint of youth, St. Nicholas’ visit beautifully emphasizes the spirit of sacrifice and preparation during Advent — making hearts ready for the coming of Christ at Christmas.

What better way to teach children to prepare their hearts for Jesus than to invite St. Nicholas into your home? His small gifts and encouragement help spread out the excitement of Christmas and keep the focus on Christ.

St Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop known for his deep faith, compassion for the needy, and acts of charity to those in need of temporal and spiritual aid. A much loved story is of the time that he punched the heretic Arius for obstinately denying the divinity of Christ.

Long before he became associated with Santa Claus, St Nicholas was remembered as a shepherd of souls who showed Christ’s love through generosity and courage.

Sharing his story helps children understand that real joy comes from giving, not from receiving — a lesson that beautifully sets the tone for Advent, a season of self-denial and longing.

St Nicholas Day offers families a moment to honor St. Nicholas, the patron saint of youth. It also reminds us that Advent is not about rushing forward, but about waiting in joyful expectation.

Many families use this feast day to:

• Emphasize the need for self denial
• Introduce Advent traditions
• Establish a true Catholic home centered on faith

Rather than overwhelming children, the simplicity of this day makes its meaning easier to remember — and easier to repeat year after year.

If you cannot arrange for a personal visit from the holy patron of youth himself, a heartfelt note left by St. Nicholas can work just as well. His message might include:

• That he has come from heaven.
• That he is their special patron and is praying for them.
• That he would love to hear how they are preparing their hearts for Christmas.

Children can respond to St. Nicholas by writing letters or even telling him in person about the sacrifices they are making during Advent.

A beloved tradition is the straw box: a way for children to physically offer their good deeds. Each time a child makes a sacrifice — like an act of obedience, sharing, or helping with younger brothers or sisters — they place a piece of "straw" into a manger to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus on Christmas morning.

These small challenges remind children to keep Advent as a true preparation period, growing in love and selflessness.

A festive touch: attach a chain of yellow construction paper to cards made from last year’s Christmas cards. Each time a child makes a sacrifice, he can take a chain off and place it in the crib creating a soft bed of "hay" for Baby Jesus on Christmas morning.

Lighting the Advent Wreath Each Evening

One of the most beloved Advent traditions is the Advent wreath, made of evergreens and four candles: three purple and one pink. The evergreens symbolize the eternal life Christ promises, and the wreath’s circle shape reflects God's eternity — He has no beginning and no end.

Each week of Advent, a new candle is lit:

• First Week: The youngest child lights the first purple candle.
• Second Week: The oldest child lights the first and second purple candles.
• Third Week (Gaudete Sunday): The mother lights the pink candle, symbolizing joy.
• Fourth Week: The father lights all four candles.

Prayers accompany the lighting of each candle, drawn from the Gradual of that Sunday's Mass.

A creative idea: make personalized Advent placemats! Using clear contact paper, Christmas cards, stickers, and our printable Advent wreath prayers, design a special mat for each family member. These mats help keep Advent prayers and focus at the center of daily family life.

Reading Scripture and symbols through a Jesse Tree

Just two days after St Nicholas Day, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 — a Marian feast that plays a central role in Advent. 

This feast is a wonderful opportunity to form your children's interior life and celebrate the gift of Our Lady who was conceived without original sin. Through a special grace of God, Mary was preserved from all stain of sin, making her a fitting vessel to bring Our Lord into the world.

Honoring Our Lady during this time helps families understand that Advent is not only about waiting, but about preparing the heart, just as Mary did. Many families mark this feast day with:

• Special prayers to Our Lady
• Decorating gingerbread houses and artwork
• A festive party or meal

Together, St Nicholas Day and the Immaculate Conception help place Advent firmly within the life of the Church — centered on patience, humility, and joyful expectation.

Start the day by going to Mass and praying the Rosary as a family. If you can, visit a shrine or a grotto dedicated to Our Lady.

Within your home, renew each family member’s consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Take some time to teach your children about original sin, the effects of baptism, and the importance of striving to keep their baptismal innocence throughout their lives.

Consecration To The Immaculate Heart of Blessed Virgin Mary

Queen of Heaven and earth, to your Immaculate Heart, the channel of all graces, we consecrate our children, (here list names) whom we have received from God's goodness.

We offer them to you, that you may present them to your Divine Son, that you may take them under your loving maternal protection, that you may preserve them from dangers, that you may keep them from all sin, that you may make them grow in piety and in all virtue, so that they may always be worthy to call themselves your children.

May they grow daily in wisdom and grace, may they go through life having you always as their refuge and their Mother.

May all virtue shine in them and may they never offend your maternal heart.

May the Eternal Father look upon them with delight and see in them a ray and reflection of your Immaculate Beauty. 

As today they gladden our home, so may they one day gladden the Eternal Home, which we pray will be theirs.
Amen.

This day is about honoring Our Lady—and what better way to do that than with a sweet, joyful celebration that mirrors her purity and sweetness? A candy-themed party is a festive and meaningful way to capture the spirit of this feast!

A candy party adds an extra layer of joy to this Marian celebration, especially for children! Here’s how to throw a candy-themed party centered on honoring Our Lady.

Decorating Tips

Pizza is super easy to serve and clean up for large gatherings. You can serve Christmas cookies (including gingerbread men) but the focus of the party should be building gingerbread houses. You can also use peppermint swirl decorations, candy garlands, and faux snow to give your space a whimsical, sugary touch—all pointing back to the theme of Mary's sweet purity.

By combining the tradition of honoring Our Lady with a candy-themed celebration, you create a day that's both fun and filled with rich Catholic meaning. The sweetness of the day mirrors the purity of Our Lady and helps children build beautiful, lasting memories centered on faith, family, and joy.

Let the fragrance of gingerbread, the sparkle of candy, and the innocence of your children’s laughter be a fragrant offering to Our Queen on her special day!

In a culture that rushes toward Christmas, St Nicholas Day invites families to pause. Through saints, feast days, and devotions, children discover that there are real-life holy people who they can learn from and become friends with. Friends who will help them as they navigate life's journey.

St Nicholas Day reminds us that charity is loving God and our neighbor for His sake.
Our Lady’s feast reminds us that holiness begins in a humble heart.
Advent teaches us to wait for the coming of Christ in joyful expectation.

Stories have always been one of the most powerful ways families pass on the Faith. As Advent unfolds, storytelling helps children connect tradition with meaning.

Merry Anne Bright, our original Christmas short film, continues this spirit of discovering the true meaning of Christmas — offering a way to reflect during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

What Advent traditions does your family treasure most?
How do you celebrate St Nicholas Day or Our Lady’s feast in your home?