It's St Nicholas Day!

Today is St Nicholas day, also known as the true Santa. Story has it he was born in the 3rd Century in a village that is now located on the southern coast of Turkey when it was ruled by the Greeks. He was raised by his wealthy parents who encouraged strong Christian faith and morals. He decided to dedicate his life to his faith and community and became a Bishop, became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. During his life and after his death, he was known as St Nicholas Patron of Children throughout the Mediterranean and Europe.

So, where did the name Santa come from? Long story short… In the 18th century there were reports of Dutch families gathering to honour the anniversary of his death in the New York Times. The Dutch would have called St Nicholas “Sinter Klaas” which was the dutch translation, however, the name Santa Clause then evolved from this. Essentially, a twist on a mispronunciation perhaps?

December 6th marks the day of St Nicholas’s passing and the typical way to celebrate his life is to leave shoes out for St. Nicholas to place small gifts in. Socks are fine, too. Traditionally, the gifts are simply small candies or coins—little items that bring a lot of joy for children.

So in the spirit of it being Saint Nicholas Day let’s look at ways in which we can become a holistic Santa this Christmas and give the gift of health and healing wisdom to those we love and care for.

Since we love and sell Essential oils we’re going to look at the healing benefits of aromatherapy and the best Christmas mixes to try this season. Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine. Uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit.

Top Christmas smells and benefits include:

Frankincense - helps to open up the nasal passages, relieve congestion, and promote easy breathing. Its calming, sweet, and woodsy aroma improves mood by reducing feelings of tension and anxiety and increasing focus and memory.

Cinnamon - aids in relaxation, stress management, and mood enhancement. Additionally, it has a cleansing quality that aids in opening airways and encouraging deep breathing. It is also warming to the touch.

Mandarin - relaxing, hypnotic, and anti-nausea properties. It calms the central nervous system, which also lessens anxiety and insomnia. Gastralgia and dyspepsia are combated by mandarin essential oil. (It also successfully combats skin ageing and sleep issues in children.)

Peppermint - for treating coughs and colds, relieving discomfort, enhancing brain performance, and lowering stress in aromatherapy.

Nutmeg - with an uplifting scent it contains both stimulant and calming qualities. These dramatically lower blood pressure levels and relieve mental stress, anxiety, and concern. Additionally, this natural substance reduces anxiety, sadness, insomnia, and promotes deep sleep.

When we receive a gift, we not only recognise the thoughtfulness of the giver, but we also realise how much we care about them. As a result, the gift is immediately significant, not because of its monetary value, but because of its intent. As a result, it promotes the formation of strong love and affection bonds with the recipient.

Happy Christmas Shopping!

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