St Nicholas Day
The feast of the generous bishop of Myra whose gift-giving legends grew into Santa Claus.
When: 6 December (or its eve, 5 December); 19 December in Eastern churches that use the old Julian calendar
Origin and history
Nicholas was a bishop of Myra, in what is now southern Turkey, who by tradition died on 6 December 343. According to Christian tradition he was born in Patara in Asia Minor and was imprisoned during the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian, then released after the accession of Constantine. The best-known story about him tells that he secretly helped a poor man's three daughters by dropping a bag of gold coins through their window on three nights, so that each could have a dowry. Other early stories tell of him calming a storm at sea and saving three innocent soldiers from execution.
Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, children, toymakers and students, among others. He is also called Nicholas of Bari, after the Italian city where his relics are kept.
Customs
- In the Netherlands and Belgium, children put out a shoe filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas's horse, and gifts come with funny rhymes.
- In Poland and Ukraine children hope to find a present under their pillow.
- In parts of the United States children hang stockings or leave shoes out on Saint Nicholas Eve, hoping for coins or small gifts.
- The American Santa Claus and the British Father Christmas are both derived from Saint Nicholas; the name Santa Claus comes partly from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
How traditions differ
Nicholas is honoured in both East and West, and he is one of the most popular saints in the Orthodox world, where he is known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. Over time much of the gift-giving connected with him moved to Christmas.
In the library
Works: The Golden Legend: Popular Saints
Great Lives: Constantine the Great
More in Advent
Sources checked: Saint Nicholas Day (Wikipedia); Saint Nicholas (Wikipedia).