Have a Cookie for St. Nicholas Day!

Thanks to all my readers who participated in my Giveaway (winner revealed below).  Out of 56 entries, List Randomizer could only pick one of you, but anyone can visit the ultimate St. Nicholas resource - the St. Nicholas Center website - for traditional St. Nicholas Day Spice Cookie recipes (there are even vegan and gluten free versions).  The website has lots of kids' activity ideas and poetry to help you celebrate this special day!

Dutch artist Anton Pieck (1895-1987) source

Congratulations to the winner of the Springerle Cookie Collection and the St. Nicholas book, A Baker's Dozen --  Jill M!  And thank you to Alice from The Springerle Bakery for partnering with me for this scrumptious giveaway!

How much do you know about St. Nicholas?  Did you know that besides being a patron and protector of children, he is also the patron saint of fishermen and sailors?

A Rhyme for Nicholas
(from Ten Saints by Eleanor Farjeon
Oxford University Press, 1936)

Nicholas, Saint of Children,
Loves to spend his wealth
On pretty toys for girls and boys,
Leaving them by stealth.
The wind in the chimney
Hears children call:
"Bring me this, Saint Nicholas!
Bring me that, Saint Nicholas!

 A silky scarf, 

 A bag of sweets, 

 A big gold ball!" 

Nicholas, Saint of Sailors,
Children of the sea,
When their sails are torn by gales
Close at hand is he.
The wind in the rigging
Hears the sailors cry:
"Save us here, old Nicholas!
Save us there, good Nicholas!
 Saint of Sailors,
 Bring us safe
 Home, high and dry!"