St. John’s second-graders Jack Gerker and Lillyan Vonderwell bless candy canes for St. Nicholas Day.

Amy Youngpeter, marketing director at St. John’s Schools, explained the story behind the original St. Nicholas and described the activities the students participate in

“St. Nicholas paid three women’s dowries by throwing gold coins through the window,” Youngpeter detailed the tradition. “We use the gold wrapped chocolate coins to symbolize the dowry payment he made and candy canes to represent the Bishop’s crozier [golden staff].

In many cultures, St. Nicholas is the main gift- giver and his feast day, St. Nicholas Day, is observed on Dec. 6, which falls early in the Advent season. In other cultures, he may arrive in the middle of November and then moves about the countryside, visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. In other places, he visits during the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with children’s wish lists. Small treats are left in shoes or stockings so the children will know he has come.