So that your child will remember St. Nicholas Day for the rest of his life, arrange a real holiday for him. These 10 original ideas will give children a fairy tale about Nikolai
This year, December 19, when St. Nicholas Day is celebrated, falls on Sunday. So there is a wonderful opportunity not to be limited only to a gift, but to arrange a real holiday for your child. And you can start celebrating the day before, on Saturday 18 December.
Idea 1. Have a quiz about the life of Saint Nicholas
On the eve of December 19, talk to your children about St. Nicholas. Who is it? Why does he give gifts to children at night? If they already go to school, then they probably know that this is a real person who lived on territory of modern Turkey and helped all those in need, distributing secretly, under cover of night presents. But they hardly know about the details. For example, that there is a real portrait of St. Nicholas. It was recreated by scientists at the University of Manchester from the relics that are stored in the Italian city of Bari. Show the kids this photo. It will be much more interesting for them to receive a gift from a real, and not an abstract person.
It will also be interesting for schoolchildren to look at the place where Saint Nicholas lived and served as a priest. This is the Turkish town of Demre, immersed in orange orchards, surrounded by mountains. There, in 1956, an ancient church was excavated under a supermarket, in which frescoes depicting St. Nicholas and his sarcophagus were preserved. Now it is empty, since the Romans transported the relics of the saint to their homeland. But, as local residents assure, the place where the sarcophagus stands still has powerful power. People come here to make their deepest desires.
After the story about the life of St. Nicholas, triple the quiz. Whoever turns out to be the greatest connoisseur and scores the most points will win. Some kind of gift can be prepared for the winner.
Monument to St. Nicholas in the Turkish city of Demre / photo by E. Tokarchuk
For children 3-5 years old, a cartoon on this topic is perfect for acquaintance with St. Nicholas. For example, “Saint Nicholas. From the cycle "Christmas Tale", "Christmas Tales of St. Nicholas" or St. Nicholas.
Idea 2. Put on a home play about St. Nicholas
In the 19th century, the famous Ukrainian poet, playwright Ivan Franko wrote the play "The Court of St. Nicholas", in which he collected all the Ukrainian traditions of this holiday. At its core, it is a ready-made script. Distribute who will play the role of St. Nicholas, who will get the role of angels - children's advocates, and who the devil - the chief prosecutor. And forward to the home stage. For the little ones, you can organize a finger theater by stitching the figures of the main characters.
Idea 3. Put a secret key under the rug
Many children are interested in: "But how does Saint Nicholas get to our apartment, he doesn't have a key." For such reasons, save the "magic key". And with your child, place it under the rug near the front door. Just don't forget to pick it up from there later.
Magic Keys / photo joom.com
Idea 4. Prepare a treat for Saint Nicholas
Traditionally in Ukraine on the Day of St. Nicholas they baked honey cakes - nikolaychiki. Milk and eggs were added to the dough, and therefore this delicacy was allowed on December 19 only to children. After all, adults had to adhere to the Nativity Fast.
It is possible and necessary to accustom the child to the idea that it is necessary not only to take, but also to give, and be sure to thank for the gifts. As a token of gratitude to Saint Nicholas, you can bake a nicholas just for him and put it on the windowsill. And don't forget to put a bottle of tasty and healthy Zhivchik next to it, which contains natural juice. Let Nikolai also be a zest, because he will have to wander all over the world all night in order to give gifts to all the children. Do not forget to eat or at least bite the gingerbread and drink at least a glass of Zhivchik. So you will cheer up for further adventures, and the child will see that Saint Nicholas did not pass by his treat.
With "Zhivchik" every holiday is tastier and more fun / advertiser's photo
Idea 5. Leave magic traces
To further enhance the atmosphere of magic, leave traces that will convince the child that Saint Nicholas did visit you. To do this, take dad's boots, sprinkle their soles with powdered sugar or flour and at night, when the child is sleeping, walk in them from the front door to his crib.
Idea 6. Arrange a maze to find a gift
Yes, of course, traditionally Saint Nicholas puts his gifts under pillows or in gift socks. But if you want to surprise the child, you can go not the usual, but an interesting way. Build a labyrinth for your beloved crumbs, passing through which she will get to her gift.
To make it, tie the end of the rope to the gift, and wind the other end around furniture and objects so that you get a maze. Unwinding the thread, the child will definitely get to the gift.
If your labyrinth turns out to be long and intricate, arrange five minutes with Zhivchik. A glass of your favorite drink will give you a boost of energy for further search for a gift.
The child will definitely be delighted with the flying gift / photo dronomania.ru
Idea 7. A gift from heaven
If you really want to create a wow effect, you can arrange so that a gift from St. Nicholas will fly to the child right from the sky. You can arrange such a surprise thanks to the drone. A gift weighing no more than 200-300 g is suspended on a cable 1-1.5 m long. The kid takes it off and the drone flies away.
Idea 8. Visit Nikolay
The residences of St. Nicholas are opening throughout Ukraine. There are several of them in Kiev alone. So, from December 1 to 26, you can visit him in the Great Lavra Belfry. In addition to communicating with "St. Nicholas", the children will be able to attend master classes on making New Year's toys. To get there, you must first register by phone.
There are 4 residences of St. Nicholas in Kiev / photo golos.com.ua
In the same period, another residence will work - in the Museum of the Hetmanship, at the address: st. Spasskaya, 16-b. You also need an appointment by phone.
And in "Mamayeva Sloboda" from December 15 to 26, children will be greeted by "Nikolay", dressed in a beaver fur noble caftan, in a hetman's hat and with a lyre in his hands, on which he will perform cants 17-18 century. It's hard to say how interesting they are to the younger generation. But the young guests of St. Nicholas will definitely appreciate the baking of St. Nicholas right in the oven.
If you want your child to meet "Nikolai" in the open air, then you are in Shevchenko Park. Here, in the "Nikolaev" residence, a Christmas tree will be installed, a stage for the performance of children's groups and a photo zone will be arranged.
