All About St. Nicholas
SAINT NICHOLAS PRAY FOR US!
All About St. Nicholas
As Christmas approaches each year, something changes. People become more cheerful and lighthearted, thoughtful and generous. In a word, as Christmas nears each year, people become more human. There is something about the spirit of Christmas that brings out the best in people. Christmas today is a fascinating amalgamation of the birth of Jesus and the legend of a fourth-century bishop. There is something about Christmas that draws people, even non-Christians, to celebration.
Then of course there is Santa Claus and the question most parents dread: Is Santa real?
The answer? Yes. Santa Claus is real and he lived an incredible life, hundreds of years ago. But he didn’t go by the name Santa Claus. He was known as Nicholas.
Who is Saint Nicholas?
Saint Nicholas was an early Christian bishop of the ancient Greek city of Myra (modern-day Demre, Turkey). During his life he gained the reputation of uncommon concern for the needs of his people, and after his death he became renowned as a great miracle worker.
Nicholas had a profound understanding of the method Jesus used throughout his ministry. When you read the four Gospels, you discover that Jesus almost never preached before he attended to some human need. He would heal someone—make the lame walk or the blind see. He would feed the hungry, often thousands of people at a time.
Jesus’ concern for people’s physical and material needs is one of the things that set him apart from the spiritual leaders of his time. He wasn’t just interested in the spiritual well-being of people; he was interested in the whole person. Nicholas understood that. He understood that it is hard to listen to the Word of God if you are hungry and thirsty. He realized that it is even difficult to believe in God if your children are dying of hunger.
Poverty has been an obstacle to flourishing for billions of people throughout history—and it is still an obstacle today. The saints realized that we each have the power to help some people overcome this obstacle. The haunting truth comes by reflecting on two simple questions: (1) Is there really any good reason why a billion people alive today are starving to death? (2) How is it possible or acceptable that we allow one in five children in America to go to bed hungry each night? As Christians we are called to serve the hungry, the lonely, the poor, the uneducated. They are our brothers and sisters. They are Jesus in disguise; they are Jesus in our midst. There are many stories about Saint Nicholas. They are stories of love and compassion. They are stories of self-sacrifice and great generosity. It’s impossible to know if they are true, but if they are not, we should make them true with our own lives.
One of these stories tells about a widowed man with three daughters. He was old and poor. Having no money for dowries, upon his death, his daughters would most likely be sold into slavery or prostitution. One night while everybody was sleeping, Nicholas rode past the family’s home and flung a red velvet bag filled with gold coins in through the window of the old man’s home. The father heard the noise and saw Nicholas riding off, and he spent the rest of his life praising God for sending Nicholas to them.
This is just one of many ways he generously interceded for his people, providing for their needs or giving special gifts on significant occasions in their lives. Intercede is a beautiful word. I love seeing someone intercede to solve a problem or improve a situation. Religious leaders throughout history have a reputation for being disconnected from the daily realities of the people they claim to serve. This is why Jesus and the prophets were repulsed by so many so-called spiritual leaders. But Nicholas had the heart of a servant and was deeply in touch with the needs of his people.
Santa Claus comes once a year to our shopping centers; Saint Nicholas did something every day to demonstrate the generosity of God to the people of his time. Fifteen hundred years before Dickens wrote his play, Nicholas of Myra was already living out the central lesson of A Christmas Carol: to honor Christmas in your heart each and every day of the year.
When is St. Nicholas Day?
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated every year on December 6.
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St. Nicholas Day Traditions
Have you ever celebrated St. Nicholas Day? Whether you grew up celebrating or this will be your first year ever, get ready for joy and fun surprises with these St. Nicholas Day traditions from across the world:
The first St. Nicholas tradition is a fun one. The night before the feast day, children will leave their shoe or boot out in front of the fireplace. When they wake up the next morning on December 6, they’ll find their shoe filled with small gifts like coins, candy, and oranges. The coins are given in remembrance of the coins St. Nicholas left the girls in need of a dowry. The oranges are given to signify the gold that St. Nicholas gave away to those in need. This tradition comes from the legends of St. Nicholas’ generosity and led to the celebration of Santa Claus on Christmas Day today. In some countries, like Germany and Austria, St. Nicholas is accompanied by his counterpart the Krampus. Much like the legend of Santa Claus, the Krampus will leave coal in the shoes of misbehaving children. Children are encouraged to participate in acts of kindness to stay off of the Krampus’ naughty list.
Another way to celebrate is to make traditional St. Nicholas cookies. In the United States gingerbread and sugar cookies are the most popular while in countries such as the Netherlands and Germany make spice cookies and peppermint cookies. The spice cookies are made into the shape of St. Nicholas—complete with a Bishop’s mitre and staff!
A third St. Nicholas Day tradition is to create Holy Moments—moments of kindness, generosity, and friendship, imitating St. Nicholas’ great legacy. You could drop off a grocery store gift card to those in need, give books to your parish to use at Christmas, anonymously pay the utility bill of someone in need or donate gifts to local foster care programs.
This is not an exhaustive list. Some countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day with a community parade, with a special meal, or a party with friends. No matter how you choose to celebrate, St. Nicholas Day is a reminder of the powerful message of generosity and love that Nicholas lived.
Who is St. Nicholas the Patron Saint of?
St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, bakers, brides, unmarried women, grooms, sailors and travelers. Because he was persecuted for his faith, we can pray to him on behalf of all people who are being persecuted around the world. He was a bishop, so we can ask him to intercede for bishops. And he helped the poor, sick and suffering, so we can ask him to pray for those most in need in our communities.
A Simple Prayer to Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas, you brought the joy and generosity of Christmas to people all year round. Fill us also with the spirit of Christmas and inspire us to share that spirit with others every day of the year. Amen.
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