Dec, 6, St. Nicholas Day

Today, December 6, is St. Nicholas Day. When the children were small we celebrated this time as part of our German Month of Christmas. Today is the first day of the month. This day honors St. Nicholas, the ancestor of Santa Claus and patron saint of children.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.

The evening of December 5, our children put out there shoes, and St. Nicholas would come riding his white horse, to fill the shoes of the children. If they had been good, Nicholas left them coins and clothing. If they had been bad, he left a piece of coal or a switch to be spanked with. Our children always got a decorated sweater and some coins.

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

One of the oldest stories showing St. Nicholas as a protector of children takes place long after his death. The townspeople of Myra were celebrating the good saint on the eve of his feast day when a band of Arab pirates from Crete came into the district. They stole treasures from the Church of Saint Nicholas to take away as booty. As they were leaving town, they snatched a young boy, Basilios, to make into a slave. The emir, or ruler, selected Basilios to be his personal cupbearer, as not knowing the language, Basilios would not understand what the king said to those around him. So, for the next year Basilios waited on the king, bringing his wine in a beautiful golden cup. For Basilios' parents, devastated at the loss of their only child, the year passed slowly, filled with grief. As the next St. Nicholas' feast day approached, Basilios' mother would not join in the festivity, as it was now a day of tragedy. However, she was persuaded to have a simple observance at home—with quiet prayers for Basilios' safekeeping. Meanwhile, as Basilios was fulfilling his tasks serving the emir, he was suddenly whisked up and away. St. Nicholas appeared to the terrified boy, blessed him, and set him down at his home back in Myra. Imagine the joy and wonderment when Basilios amazingly appeared before his parents, still holding the king's golden cup. This is the first story told of St. Nicholas protecting children—which became his primary role in the West.

God bless you all this holy day as we honor St. Nicholas.

PS...I just won Bonny's Christmas CD givaway. YIPEEE! Check her blog out for her take on St. Nicholas: Bonny's Pages.

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And I want to end this post with a story I have read before but really puts into perspective this season of giving:

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma sai d so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted.... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my Second World-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.

As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two c lass.

Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were, ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

Comments

Barbara said…
Some history you have recorded here Sue, nice to read it in your words.
Beautiful story too.
Quite a few posts to catch up on here. The quilt is lovely.
Bonny said…
Wonderful the way you wrote about the history of St. Nicholas. I knew several versions too. Interesting that we grew up with very similar traditions though at the time we lived half a world apart from each other! (Not that we live very close now :))))

I especially like the story about how your Grandmother explained Santa Claus to you. She sounds like a remarkable woman. I see some of those characteristics in you, today.

{ P.S. Your CD will be put in the mail today but probaly won't leave until Monday.}

Happy St. Nicholas Day!!!
Donna said…
I Love the stories sweetie!!! Happy day to you!hughugs
Kelli said…
Wonderful post, Sioux! We love to read the story of St. Nicholas and the girls and Benjamin put out their shoes last night and woke up to lots of gold chocolate coins. :)
~Kelli
Pam Aries said…
Hi Sioux! I am finally getting back to the blogland! I loved my trip thru Texas and thanks for your invite! I was way up in Allanreed on 66 The wind was whipping tumbleweeds and there was nothing but desert. Quite lonely , yet filled with ghosts of another time.
Pam Aries said…
I enjoyed reading the history of St Nicholas!
Felisol said…
Dear Sioux Sue.
You are a well of interesting topics and the way you present your stuff is even better.
Your drawing of the hotel amazes me.
It's a sheer work of art.

The very interesting story of the hotel is a part of American history.
Imagine young Sue in this world of luxury and fame!

The story about Saint Nicholas or Sinter Klaas as the Dutch name him was also very interesting told.
I kind of new it, but when renewed the origin of Santa Claus becomes so vivid and
uncommercialized. Think we need some new thinking in that way.

The Child Sue as Santa's helper was the best Christmas story I've heard in a long time. Told with pure love and awe.
Every child should have a grandmom like yours, and even more important; be made the helper of Santa Claus at the age of eight sure must have done immense impact on the woman to be Sioux Sue.
This is not only about rolemodelling, it's a bout being put in the best of all forms, that of an active caretaker and giver.
I bet you have passed a lot of this further to your own in due time.
You amde my tears flow, but it was a good and healthy flow.
From Felisol
EGSnyder said…
Nice story, Sioux! Thanks for sharing it.

/e
Anonymous said…
Many thanks for the lovely Christmas story. I have printed it to add to the 'Christmas' Story book our kids bring out every year.

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