The real Father Christmas?

A real-life bishop in what is now Turkey, Saint Nicholas earned his sainthood for numerous miracles, but his neighbors knew him best as a kind and generous man with a great fondness for children. He was known for his good deeds and generous spirit. Legend has it that he was the real Father of Christmas, "St. Nick". In many parts of the world Saint Nicholas delivers gifts on the eve of his Feast Day, December 6, and December 25th is reserved for the religious observance of Christ's birth.

The most famous tradition on St. Nicholas Day is that children put their polished shoes or socks by their bed, outside the door, or on a windowsill and at night St. Nicholas fills them with little gifts. Kellie encouraged me to start this tradition with Grace, so I did! St. Nick brought Grace a snowman stuffed doll, a new book called Ten Christmas Lights (it lights up!), and a snack tucked into her boots. You can see she liked the book. Here she is "reading" it. I also want her to grow up being conscious of people who are less fortunate. So we did two things: we boxed up many of the clothes that don't fit her any more (and some old clothes of mine) and brought them to Goodwill. And, on Monday night we are going to spend an hour ringing the bell for the Salvation Army outside a local grocery store. I have a feeling, dressed in her Santa outfit, that she is going to earn a lot of donations!