This is the feast of St. Nicholas Eve

Scripture of the Day: 2 Nephi 2:3

In our family, December 5 is a very special day.  It is the evening that shoes are left outside the door and in the morning, they are miraculously filled with treats and small gifts.  Usually Christmas socks and other things are left, nestled in the shoes.  We never had really naughty children, so switches and coal were never left in the shoes.  However we know people that have had either or both left behind for them.  One  young man we knew had coal wrapped like candy hanging from the switches!  I have noticed that there are bundles of switches here but have not seen any coal. 

The purpose of the feast is that it celebrates St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children and sailors.  We all know stories of St. Nicholas and this festival is rooted around the celebration of those stories.  St. Nicholas is no longer a saint in the Catholic Church and this has become an optional feast.  However the Lutheran's still embrace him as a saint.

For todays Christmas offering, I found a poem by Hans Christian Andersen.  I found an English Translation but tweaked it.  I didn't like some of the choices of words.

Barn Jesus I in krybbe laae
Skjoondt Himlen var hans Eie'
Hans pude her blev Hoo og Straa
Morkt var det on hans leie!
Men stjernen over Huset stod,
Og oxen kysset Barnets fod,
Hallelujah, Barn Jesus

Hver sorgfuld sjael, blev karsk og glad
Ryst of den tunge smerte
Et Born er foodt I David's Stad,
Til troost for hvert et Hjerte
Til Barnet vil vi stige ind
A bliv Boorn I Sjael og Sind
Helleluja, Barn Jesus!

Baby Jesus does in a manger lay
Though Heaven offered sweet repose,
His pillow is tufts of fragrant hay.
Darkness surrounded the rough hewn bed
But stars shone brightly overhead
And cattle kissed the infants feet.
Hallelujah, Baby Jesus!

You heavy souls (or weighed down souls) rejoice and sing!
Shake off the your tongues and words that sting.
In David's Place is a newborn child
So let us journey to see his eyes open wide
And kneel in childlike reverence
Where love and peace are manifest.
Hallelujah, Baby Jesus!

Sorry the rhythm is wonky but the true message shines through this way.  It is a favorite Christmas Carol here.  I can't get the melody out of my head.