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December 6th marks the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. Born c. 280 A.D. in Asia minor. Also known as Klaus, Mikulas, Nicholas of Bari, Nicolaas, Niccolas, Nicklas, Santa Claus, Kris Kringle. he was called Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra, in Lycia (the sounthern coast of modern day Turkey, now called the city of Demre). History and legend are intertwined in the story of Nicholas' life. He has been widely honored as a saint since the sixth century. At least 21 miracles have been attributed to him.
Generous to the poor and special protector of the innocent and wronged. Many stories were told of him before becoming the beloved Santa Claus.
Upon hearing a local man had fallen on hard times and was about to sell his three daughters into prostitution, Nicholas anonymously went by night and threw three bags of gold on separate nights into their house. One of the bags he threw down the chimney to avoid being seen. The bag of gold he threw down the chimney landed in a stocking hung to dry, hence the tradition of hanging stockings up to receive gifts. These three bags of gold, generously given in times of trouble became the symbol of the three golden balls hanging outside today's pawnbroker shops.
In another well known miracle, St. Nicholas raised to life three young boys who had been murdered and thrown into a pickle barrel. He became the patron saint against robberies and thieves when he induced some thieves to return their plunder. During a voyage to the Holy Land he calmed a fierce storm that suddenly blew and save his ship, hence becoming the patron saint of sailors and dockworkers.
When December 6th came around (St. Nicholas died either 345 or 352 A.D.), some children in certain lands remember receiving small gifts from Saint Nicholas in their shoes. He was always known for his generosity and gift giving. He has become the nation saint of Russia and Greece and there are over 400 churches named after him in Great Britain alone! He has become the patron saint of judges, murderers, pawnbrokers, theives, merchants, paupers, scholars, sailors, bakers, travelers, maidens, but most of all , poor children. He is also known as a friend and protector of all those in trouble.
Good children traditionally receive a visit from this patron bearing gifts of candies, cookies, apples, nuts. As was mentioned before, in some places the children put their shoes on the window sill on the eve of St. Nicholas' Day and find them filled with candies, cookies, oranges, dried fruit the next morning. Some would leave their stockings at the door with notes to St. Nicholas, the forerunner of letters to Santa Claus! The next morning the notes would be answered and the stockings filled with sweetmeats. naughty children were warned with a willow switch, or pieces of coal.
After the Protestant Reformation in Northern Germany, St. Nicholas was replaced by the Kres Kindl, the Christ Child. The Dutch Protestant settlers of New Amsterdam made the custom popular on this side of the Atlantic. This Eastern saint was converted into a Nordic magician (Saint Nicholas - Sint kaes - Santa Claus). Known throughout Europe as far north as Lappland where the reindeer drew Santa's chariot!
His representations in art are varied but mostly was depicted as a goodly Bishop with fancy garment, white beard and staff.
We are left with a rich heritage stretching back over the long centuries. The Bishop of Myra, Saint Nicholas, has become our revered Santa Claus. Long may he be venerated to keep the tradition alive for centuries to come!
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