Toe-Tally Fun Fact: The Saint Nicholas tradition can be traced back to the Germanic god Wodan (Odin). To celebrate St. Nick’s Day on a scale similar to the German custom, children put one empty shoe (or sock) outside, and, on the following morning of December 6th, the children awake to find that St. Nick has filled their previously empty footwear with candy and small presents (if the children have been “good”) or, ostensibly, coal (if not).