Today we celebrate St. Nicholas in my country. The children set out their shoes, plates, or stockings, depending on which part of Germany they come from, before they go to bed on December 5. St. Nicholas comes overnight and brings goodies and small presents, which they find in front of their door when they wake up in the morning. There is even a special St. Nicholas song for the days before he comes. St. Nicholas is also celebrated in Holland, where the children receive their presents on this day, not on Christmas, as well as in Belgium.
Unless you are of Native American heritage, everyone comes from somewhere else here. We all have shared American holidays and traditions, like Thanksgiving; and then we have our own cultural or ethnic traditions. That is what makes this country so unique, and all our friends so interesting. Our children are older now, but they hang on to that sweet tradition. Our teenage daughter still sets her boots out - because - while our son gets his St. Nicholas package sent to college.
What are your special ethnic traditions you don't share with your neighbors? Be sure to hang on to them. It gets boring if we all do the same thing.