St. Nicholas Day Gifts: What to Put in Their Shoes on December 6
On the night of December 5, Catholic children all over the world line up their shoes by the door. In the morning, they find small gifts left by St. Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra who gave to children in need and never wanted the credit.
It is one of the sweetest traditions of Advent, and it keeps the focus of the season on a saint instead of a shopping list. Here are 22 gifts that fit in a shoe, most of them under $25 apiece, so you can fill every pair in the house without blowing the Christmas budget.
| Order Early for December 6 St. Nicholas Day is Sunday, December 6. Order by Friday, November 27 and choose Priority Mail at checkout so gifts arrive in time. Free shipping on orders of $75 or more within the lower 48 states. |
Shop by Budget
| Shoe-Sized Gifts, $25 or Less Each | Keepsakes from Godparents and Grandparents |
| St. Nicholas Prayer for a Child Card $2.00 Rose Scented Wrap Rosary $4.99 Plaid Rosary Case $6.00 Holy Playing Cards $11.75 Story of Christmas Sticker Book $11.95 Armor of God Bracelet $11.95 Adoring Santa Ornaments (Set of 2) $41.99 for 2 St. Nicholas Christmas Pin $14.99 Backpack Olive Wood Rosary $15.99 Kids' Twistable Rosary Bracelet $16.99 Pink and Crystal Angel Bracelet From $16.99 St. Sebastian Sports Bracelet $17.99 Boys Blue Bead Rosary $18.99 Girls Pink Bead Rosary $18.99 St. Nicholas Medal with Prayer Card $20.00 Round St. Nicholas Medal $21.99 St. Michael Blue Wood Bracelet $20.99 Youth Mother of Pearl Bracelet From $22.99 St. Sebastian Sports Rosary $22.99 |
St. Nicholas Medal From $43.99 Saint Nicholas Rosary Bracelet From $76.99 St. Nicholas Godchild Pin From $97.99 |
Gifts from St. Nicholas Himself
Let the saint introduce himself. These help children learn who St. Nicholas really was, not just who left the treats.
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Adoring Santa Ornaments, Set of 2
$41.99 for 2
Santa cradling the Baby Jesus in his arms, beautifully detailed and sold as a set of two, so it is about $21 per ornament: one for each child's shoe. A sweet way to show kids that Santa's story starts with St. Nicholas and always points back to Christ. Hang them on the tree the same morning.
St. Nicholas Christmas Pin
$14.99
Gold-plated with red and green hand-enameled details, showing St. Nicholas in his bishop's vestments with his crozier. Two inches tall, just right for a coat, a backpack, or a school uniform sweater.
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St. Nicholas Medal with Prayer Card
$20.00
An Italian pewter St. Nicholas medal on a 24-inch chain, paired with a fold-out prayer card that tells his story. Everything a child needs to get to know the saint behind the shoes.
Round St. Nicholas Medal with Prayer Card
$21.99
A round, non-tarnishing pewter medal showing St. Nicholas holding the Gospels with three children at his feet, paired with a prayer card. A small keepsake that tells his story in one picture.
St. Nicholas Prayer for a Child Card
$2.00
A laminated card with St. Nicholas on the front and a prayer for children's protection on the back. Tuck one in every shoe, or buy a pack of 25 for a classroom, CCD class, or the whole cousin crew.
For the Boys' Shoes
Bracelets and rosaries tough enough for recess and sports practice.
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St. Sebastian Sports Bracelet: Soccer, Football or Basketball
$17.99
Black wood beads and little sports balls on an adjustable cord with a St. Sebastian medal, the patron of athletes. Made in the USA. Pick soccer, football, or basketball.
Stainless Steel Armor of God Bracelet
$11.95
A simple stainless steel bracelet with a clasp and the words "Armor of God," from Ephesians 6. Sturdy enough for the playground.
St. Michael Bracelet with Blue Wood Beads
$20.99
Blue wood beads on a stretch cord with a St. Michael charm. Easy to slip on and off, and a good fit for older boys.
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St. Sebastian Sports Rosary
$22.99
Our Father beads shaped like his favorite ball, 9mm black wood Hail Marys, and a St. Sebastian center. Choose football, baseball, basketball, or soccer.
Boys Blue Bead Rosary with Cross Box
$18.99
Small 4mm blue glass beads sized for little fingers, packed in a clear cross-shaped box. A first rosary of his very own.
Miraculous Medal Backpack Olive Wood Rosary
$15.99
A one-decade olive wood rosary on a sturdy cord with a Miraculous Medal and Pardon Crucifix. Clip it to a backpack or a coat zipper so he can pray it on the way to school.
For the Girls' Shoes
Pretty bracelets and a first rosary of her own.
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Kids' Multi-Color Twistable Rosary Bracelet
$16.99
Colorful matte beads with gold-tone accents in a twistable rosary that wraps around a child's wrist and stays put. Sized just for kids.
Pink and Crystal Angel Youth Bracelet
From $16.99
Pink and crystal beads on a stretch cord with a little guardian angel charm. Choose a "For Someone Special" gift box or the card version for the shoe.
Youth Mother of Pearl Stretch Bracelet
From $22.99
Genuine mother of pearl beads in a youth size, made in Italy. A first grown-up bracelet for a girl who loves to dress up for Mass.
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Rose Scented Wrap Rosary Bracelet
$4.99
A full five-decade rosary of rose-scented wood beads that wraps around the wrist, with a Miraculous Medal and tiny crucifix. At under $5, you can put one in every shoe in the house.
Girls Pink Bead Rosary with Cross Box
$18.99
Petite 4mm pink glass beads with a chalice center, in a clear cross-shaped gift box. A first rosary that fits small hands.
Little Extras for Every Shoe
Fill in around the chocolate coins and clementines.
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The Story of Christmas Sticker Book
$11.95
Twenty-five reusable stickers with artwork by Michael Adams and story pages so kids can build the Christmas story themselves. A perfect first gift of Advent.
Holy Playing Cards, Saints Edition
$11.75
A standard 52-card deck with fine art of Our Lord, Our Lady, and the saints. One deck fits in a shoe and keeps the whole family playing all of Advent.
Plaid Rosary Case
$6.00
A 4 by 3 inch zippered case in tan or navy plaid. Pair it with any rosary here so it never gets lost in a coat pocket.
Keepsakes from Godparents and Grandparents
For the godparent or grandparent who wants to give something they will keep for life.
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St. Nicholas Medal
From $43.99
St. Nicholas surrounded by children, with the words "Saint Nicholas Pray for Us." Made by Bliss in pewter, sterling silver, or 14K gold, with a chain. A keepsake from a godparent that will outlast the candy cane.
Saint Nicholas Rosary Bracelet
From $76.99
A one-decade rosary bracelet with a St. Nicholas medal and beads in her birthstone color, in silver plate, sterling silver, or 14K gold-filled. Handmade in the USA by Bliss with a lifetime guarantee. Made to order, so order early.
St. Nicholas Godchild Badge Pin
From $97.99
A Godchild badge pin with a St. Nicholas charm, in a velvet gift box. A sweet first St. Nicholas Day gift for a baby from the godparents.
St. Nicholas Day Questions
When is St. Nicholas Day?
St. Nicholas Day is December 6. Children set out their shoes on the evening of December 5 and find their gifts the next morning. In 2026, that is Saturday night, December 5, and Sunday morning, December 6.
Who was St. Nicholas?
St. Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra, in what is now Turkey. He is best known for secretly giving bags of gold to a poor father so his daughters could marry, which is where the tradition of secret gifts comes from. He is the patron saint of children.
What do Catholic families put in shoes on St. Nicholas Day?
Traditional treats include chocolate coins (for the gold he gave away), candy canes (shaped like his bishop's crozier), and oranges or clementines. Many families add one small gift of faith, like a medal, a rosary bracelet, or a holy card.
How much should I spend on a St. Nicholas Day gift?
Most families keep it small, about $5 to $25 per child, and save the bigger gifts for Christmas. Everything in our first five sections works out to $25 or less per child.
See every St. Nicholas Day gift in one place, including more bracelets, rosaries, and prayer cards.
About the Author
Caroline King
Catholic Wife, Mother and Business Owner
Caroline, a Catholic wife and mother of seven, runs CatholicFaithStore.com with her husband, Rich, from Lenexa, Kansas. Each year she fills a lot of little shoes on December 6.
