When Is Saint Nicholas Day?

Find the Date of Saint Nicholas Day in This and Other Years

St. Nicholas's Cathedral. St. Nicholas.

Fred de Noyelle / Getty Images

by Scott P. Richert
Scott P. Richert is senior content network manager of Our Sunday Visitor, the world's largest English language Catholic publisher. He has written about Catholicism for outlets including Humanitas and Catholic Answers Magazine.
Updated August 13, 2018

Saint Nicholas of Myra is one of the best-known of all Catholic saints, though more today for his connection to the fictional Santa Claus than for the actual details of his life. Yet for centuries, the life of this great saint was celebrated on his feast day a few weeks before Christmas (which is how he became identified with the gift-giver of Christmas), and in recent years, the customs of Saint Nicholas Day have traveled from Europe to the United States.

How Is the Date of Saint Nicholas Day Determined?

Like the feasts of all saints, Saint Nicholas Day falls on the same date each year—in this case, December 6, the anniversary of Saint Nicholas's death. Christians celebrate saints' lives on the day that they died because that is also the day on which they were born into eternal life with Christ.

When Is Saint Nicholas Day This Year?

  • Saint Nicholas Day 2017: Wednesday, December 6, 2016

When Is Saint Nicholas Day in Future Years?

Here are the days and dates of Saint Nicholas Day next year and in future years:

  • Saint Nicholas Day 2018: Thursday, December 6, 2018
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2019: Friday, December 6, 2019
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2020: Sunday, December 6, 2020
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2021: Monday, December 6, 2021
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2022: Tuesday, December 6, 2022
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2023: Wednesday, December 6, 2023
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2024: Friday, December 6, 2024
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2025: Saturday, December 6, 2025
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2026: Sunday, December 6, 2026
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2027: Monday, December 6, 2027
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2028: Wednesday, December 6, 2028
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2029: Thursday, December 6, 2029
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2030: Friday, December 6, 2030

When Was Saint Nicholas Day in Previous Years?

Here are the days and dates when Saint Nicholas Day fell in previous years, going back to 2007:

  • Saint Nicholas Day 2007: Thursday, December 6, 2007
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2008: Saturday, December 6, 2008
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2009: Sunday, December 6, 2009
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2010: Monday, December 6, 2010
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2011: Tuesday, December 6, 2011
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2012: Thursday, December 6, 2012
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2013: Friday, December 6, 2013
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2014: Saturday, December 6, 2014
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2015: Sunday, December 6, 2015
  • Saint Nicholas Day 2016: Tuesday, December 6, 2016