St. Nicholas eve...I was surprised to find that St. Nick's legend grew out of his benevolence toward a pennilss man who, unable to afford dowries for his 3 daughters, felt compelled to sell them into prostitution. Nicholas was said to have tossed a pouch of gold pieces through the father's window on 3 consecuive nights, allowing the dauhters to find suitable husbands.

These bags were later transmuted into 3 gold (or sometimes blue) balls that were adopted as a symbol by pawnbrokers. St. Nick was a 4th c. patron saint of pawnbrokers who later became known as Santa Claus.

As to decorations, they are spreading like wildfire here, lights replicating at an ever furiouser pace. And then there are the folks who leave their dangly "icicle" lights up...and on...all year.