AUTHENTIC You
WINTER 2023
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following four pages comprise the final edition of our “Authentic You” magazine. We would like to thank our readers, advertisers and the sources we interviewed during the course of the magazine.
Lauren and Scott Johnson’s children, Wesley, left, and Liam, look into their stockings last year on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6, 2022. They were ages 4 and 22 months at the time.
Lauren Johnson, middle with green dress, was 3-years-old in this photo. It was from 1997. She is with her mom’s side of the family, who all celebrated St. Nicholas Day. It was her turn to put baby Jesus in the manger that year, which is another family tradition. Photos contributed by Lauren Johnson.
CELEBRATING AN OVERLOOKED BUT
magical holiday Alexandria woman’s family makes memories on St. Nicholas Day
filled with things like peanuts, small candies and a small gift. You never Have you heard about St. Nicholas? saw them get filled. Sometimes they were filled when you woke up in the No, not the jolly old fat man in the morning, sometimes during Christmas red suit. decorating, sometimes after school. St. Nicholas, the bishop of an But you always knew they were ancient Greek town called Myra, which is now the present day Turkey. filled because they were no longer on their stocking hooks but sitting on He was born around March 15, 270 the floor in front of the hooks. It was and died on Dec. 6, 343. always and still is, so magical. Some Among many things, he was families will leave shoes out to be known for always leaving small filled, and some families will include gifts and coins for children in his fruit as a traditional item. My mom is community. Dec. 6 is St. Nicholas Day and according to Lauren Johnson one of eight kids, and it’s something that all my aunts, uncles and cousins of Garfield, St. Nicholas Day, also celebrate and something my family known as The Feast of Saint Nicholas, on my dad’s side adopted growing up commemorates the saint, his kindness also. It’s fun to share these memories and his gift-giving habit. with my family. Johnson, who was born and Q: Why was this holiday important in raised in Alexandria and is a 2012 your family? Alexandria graduate, works as the marketing coordinator for the A: For my family, it is a GermanAlexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Catholic tradition. The stories, Commerce. Growing up, her family legends and traditions come from always celebrated St. Nicholas Day all over Europe and are celebrated and now, with a family of her own, differently depending on what area of her and husband, Scott, celebrate the the continent you are in. In our area, I day with their two children, Wesley, have found not many know about St. Nicholas Day, who St. Nicholas is and 5, and Liam, 2. that he’s different from Santa Claus Johnson answers questions about and that he was a real individual. the holiday that was and still is so It’s unique and people seem excited important to her family. about the tradition when I talk about Q: How did you celebrate St. it and often want to figure out how Nicholas Day as a child? to adopt it into their family with their A: Our Christmas stockings were kids. My family is also deeply rooted always filled on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas in the Catholic faith and Christianity. Day, not on Christmas Day by Santa It’s important that we celebrate different Saints and remind ourselves Claus as most celebrate. They were By Celeste Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press
of the people that walked before us. Q: As an adult with your own family, have you kept the tradition going? A: This is a tradition I have continued with my husband and my own kids. My kiddos love waking up the morning of Dec. 6 to see what St. Nick brought and left in their stockings while they were sleeping. I love that they get to tell their friends at school and daycare about it and other family members. Since starting work at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, it is also a tradition I have brought to work. Every Dec. 6, when my coworkers and I show up to work, St. Nicholas has been there and left small treats and/or a small gift at each desk. It’s been fun to watch them be excited about St. Nicholas each year, too.
experienced over the years. I often refer to the site StNicholasCenter. Org/Who-Is-St-Nicholas. I feel it’s full of great information. Plus, any chance to celebrate a holiday is a win in my book! Besides working at the Chamber and being a wife and mother, Johnson teaches dance at Just for Kix in the styles of hip hop, jazz and kick. She also bowls in a league at Garden Center Lanes in Alexandria and is a volunteer at The Church of St. Mary. She and her husband live on a 30-acre piece of property just outside of Garfield with their two boys, Wesley and Liam, and a few animals. The family enjoys everything about the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, trail riding and more.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about St. Nicholas Day? A: I would say, do your own research, ask others about St. Nicholas Day, search St. Nicholas Day online and who he is and how he is celebrated as there are many stories, versions and traditions. This is just what I’ve learned and
Lauren Johnson had her picture taken with Santa when she was 5 years old. The photo is from 1999.