The Legend of Saint Nicholas

The legend of Saint Nicholas is the true story of Bishop Nicholas of Myra, who was born in the village of Patara in what is now modern day Turkey. Nicholas was born around 300 AD, to wealthy parents who nurtured him with devout Christian values. His parents perished in an epidemic while he was still young, and Nicholas spent the rest of his life, and his inheritance, helping others. His devotion to the church and his faith was strongl His good deeds were mostly performed secretly and he expected nothing in return.

One of the customs of the time was that a father must offer something of value, a dowry, to prospective suitors of his daughter. Without this dowry, the daughter could not marry and would be sold into slavery. One father had three daughters and was too poor to provide proper dowries for his children. On three seperate occasions, bags of gold were thrown through open windows of their home and are said to have landed in the stockings and shoes set by the fireplace to dry. Our custom of hanging stockings "by the chimney with care" has evolved from this legend.

During one of his many pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Bishop Nicholas was returning by ship when they encountered a fierce storm. As the sailors endured the storm in terror, Bishop Nicholas calmly prayed for their safety. When the storm suddenly ceased and the waters became calm, the sailors felt that Bishop Nicholas had saved their lives. Because of this, he became the patron saint of sailors.

When he died on December 6 343 AD, he was buried at his cathedral in Myra. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, known as Saint Nicholas Day. This day was celebrated throughout Europe and Asia, with each country adding its own interpretation and customs.

When the Dutch emigrated to the United States and settled in the colony of New Amserdam, which became New York, this custom for celebrating the feast of Saint Nicholas came with them. Their name of Sinter Klass soon became Santa Claus here in America.

After the Reformation, German Protestants encouraged more direction toward the worship of the Christ Child as a giver of gifts on his own feast day, which was December 25. When the tradition of Nicholas continued, it became included with Christmas.

Due to unreliable documentation of the events of Nicholas' life, Pope Paul VI ordered that the feast of Saint Nicholas be stricken from the Roman Catholic calendar in 1969. Saint Nicholas is still revered as the patron saint of little children and sailors.