Happy St. Nicholas Day! Grace Period for Newbies: Get Your Shoe Swag On

Those with a European background may be familiar with this custom. I was born there, so that's where my family picked it up. Before going to sleep on Dec. 5, you put a shoe outside your bedroom door. The next morning, you wake to find that St. Nicholas has visited, leaving a candy treat, a little toy, and if you've been naughty, some switches/twigs. The Significant Other woke this morning to find that St. Nicholas had left him a few luxury chocolates, an automatic yo-yo (it never needs rewinding people!), and just one switch. (St. Nicholas it seems, is keenly aware of one's failure to keep pen off the $300 duvet but recognizes that this is a minor infraction.) The dog appeared miffed for about the 500th morning of her life that she does not wear shoes. Although it's typically an a.m. thing, I think it's safe to say you've got the rest of the evening to jam one of your loved one's shoes full of goodies and then explain your new tradition. I guarantee you'll get a smile.

P.S.--If the shoe in question appears to be a somewhat inhospitable environment for foodstuffs, just put a bit of tissue paper in there first.