Thursday, December 16, 2021

Christmas around the world

Welcome to the last challenge of the year with the design team on CCEE Stampers blog.

Hostess Lynn would like for all those who are taking part in this challenge to select a country or culture other than their own and feature on the front of their cards a unique element or tradition from that country or culture's holiday celebrations!

I grew up with this tradition, we had these cute little boots that we put out each year, we didn't have a fireplace so the boots were just left outside our bedroom door. As a child it was just something that we did, I didn't realize that it was something my parents grew up with also until I googled the meaning of St Nicholas day. I thought I would share with you some of the meanings that I found.

What is St. Nicholas Day?

St. Nicholas derived from Nicholas of Myra and was a bishop in 4th century Greece. He was known for selling off his own items and then giving the money to the poor. He would commonly leave coins in people’s shoes and dedicated his entire life to serving people who were sick and suffering. This is how he gained his saint status, and is what inspired St. Nicholas Day (also commonly known as Feast Day or the Feast of St. Nicholas). 

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th every year. This date was chosen to commemorate the day of St. Nicholas’s death and to celebrate his life and generous spirit. 

Typically celebrated by leaving small surprise gifts in shoes or stockings, the day is meant to honor the generous spirit of Saint Nicholas, the historical inspiration for our contemporary version of Santa Claus!

Because Nicholas of Myra was a saint in the Catholic church, St. Nicholas Day is primarily a Christian holiday. It is especially popular among European Catholic and German Lutheran populations.

As time passed St. Nicholas Day began in different ways. In Italy, this day was celebrated with feasts, gift-giving, and festivals. In other European countries like Germany and the Netherlands, children would leave their shoes or special St. Nicholas boot in front of the fireplace or front door at night and find presents in them in the morning. The history of St. Nicholas and his good deeds was part of the inspiration of the modern-day Santa Claus and Father Christmas, which is why there are some current traditions of leaving gifts in people’s boots or shoes (or stockings)



I made the front of the using stamps and inside I made a pop up using Karen Burniston's Flower Pivot Panels and decorated it with the stocking charms.


Supplies
My Favorite Things stamps - Secret Santa, Cozy Companions
Mama Elephant sentiment - Best Gift Ever
Karen Burniston dies - 1143 holiday charms, 1160 Flower Pivot Panels, 1152 Long Nature Edges.


Thank you for stamping with the design team throughout 2021!  Remember New CCEE Stampers Challenges will begin again on January 6, 2022.


Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers have created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs.
Maryann Einam- You are here

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