I grew up in Wisconsin. Religious diversity when I was a kid meant you were either Catholic or Lutheran and ethnic diversity meant you were either Polish or German. But what these groups had in common was the celebration of St. Nicholas Day. St. Nicholas was a 4th century Christian bishop in what is today Turkey whose biography might have played a role in the creation of the modern Santa Claus. One of the myths surrounding St. Nicholas was that he secretly gave gifts to children.
Anyhow, we all celebrated December 6 (St. Nicholas Day) by putting out a sock the night before and that next morning we discovered little treats such as a candy cane, some small tidbit of chocolate, and a tangerine. Now, that last item might sound out of place in 2019 when citrus is readily available 12 months out of the year. But, in the 1970s the country did not import citrus and thus the only time we got citrus was starting in December. Don't ask me about the grape boycott. I'm still ticked off about that. My parents supported the boycott. All I knew was that I couldn't get any grapes.
Sometimes we would get a Hot Wheels (or the alternative Match Box). But nothing big. St. Nicholas Day was not a religious day for my brothers and I as much as it was getting something special with 19 long days ahead of us before Christmas. Well, we were attending St. Bernadette Church so we did have mass that day, but for the most part St. Nicholas Day was a secular holiday.
My favorite wife grew up in the high plains and west coast. She never heard of St. Nick's Day. But as I enjoy giving gifts, I introduced the holiday to her early on in our relationship and now our son looks forward to placing a sock on the kitchen table before going to bed on December 5th. Although I will say that the gifts have gone beyond a few pieces of candy and a tangerine. Now St. Nick brings pajamas, some toy, as well as that first candy cane and tangerine. I won't buy imported fruit. The taste is so bland because the fruit has to be shipped when its immature so as not to rot.
And, my favorite wife's gifts have gotten more extravagant over time. St. Nick is generous, indeed. I will make a special dinner on the 6th. A mini feast -Thanksmass I call it, with early winter root vegetables, a game bird, and something Provencal as a tip of the hat when we used to travel to Italy and France over Christmas.
So, what particular cultural adaptations have made it into your family?
