Germany calendar countdown
St Nicholas Day is getting closer.
St Nicholas Day falls on 6th December. In Germany, many children leave a shoe out to be filled with small treats.
Dates for 2026 to 2028 are listed below
St Nicholas Day in Germany
Nikolaustag is a much-loved cultural date, though it is not a nationwide public holiday.
About St Nicholas Day in Germany
Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra, in what is now Turkey, remembered for generosity to the poor. His feast day, 6 December, became a children's celebration across Europe. On the evening of the 5th, children polish boots and place them outside the door, and in the morning find nuts, tangerines and chocolate. Some regions pair the saint with a darker companion such as Knecht Ruprecht.
When is St Nicholas Day in Germany?
Nikolaustag is fixed on 6 December every year, with treats traditionally appearing on the morning of that date after children leave boots out the evening before.
| Calendar | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Sunday 6 December 2026 | Monday 6 December 2027 | Wednesday 6 December 2028 |
Planning around St Nicholas Day
Buy the small treats and chocolate figures a few days in advance, and remind children to leave clean boots outside the door the evening before. Work out shifts and childcare cover with the free shift planner, or browse every holiday countdown.
St Nicholas Day questions
How many days until St Nicholas Day in Germany?
The live counter at the top of this page shows the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until the next St Nicholas Day in Germany, using the time zone you choose. The dates for 2026 to 2028 are in the table above.
When is St Nicholas Day in 2027 in Germany?
St Nicholas Day falls on Monday 6 December 2027 in Germany.
Is Nikolaus the same as Santa Claus?
The two are related, since Santa Claus developed partly from the Dutch Sinterklaas, but in Germany they are separate. Nikolaus visits on 6 December, while Christmas presents usually come from the Christkind or Weihnachtsmann.