To give and not to expect anything in return is the meaning of Saint Nicholas Day (Day of St. Mikuláš) which is celebrated in Slovakia on December 6. This day should remind Christians that God gives them many gifts every day even if they do not necessarily deserving them, the TASR newswire wrote.
Children especially look forward to the morning of December 6th as they can find sweets and fruits in their boots that they carefully polish the evening before and then place under the window.
Many events take place in Slovakia in connection with St. Nicholas Day, mostly featuring cultural programmes. People wear costumes of St. Nicholas and hand out packages with sweet treats to children.
The day commemorates Bishop Nicholas who was born in Asia Minor at the beginning of the 4th century as a child of wealthy parents. As an adult, he served in Turkey as a bishop, allegedly against the will of his father. He became well-known for his generosity. Bishop Nicholas helped the poor, the ill and those suffering without expecting any credit for it.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
