Volume 14 , Issue 52

Who Was St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas (a.k.a Santa Claus)

With just four days before christmas, have you ever wondered ... WHY? What is the real meaning of Christmas? Who was St. Nicholas? How does that relate to our Santa Claus of today? How did the Santa Claus tradition begin?

Well! About three years ago I went searching for this St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas) because of my maternal Dutch ancestors that settled in the Flatbush, Nieuw Amsterdam (Long Island, New York). My Ancestors, Van (K)Couwenhoven (later mown as Conover), were some of those Dutch settlers that settled in Nieuw Amsterdam.

From the information we have gleaned online, it appears that the true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara, a Greek area that is now on the southern coast of Turkey.

The historical Saint Nicholas is represented with a full, short white beard, and wearing the red cape of a bishop over white priestly robes. He carries a crosier, or elaborate shepherd's crook, and wears a red bishop's mitre, or pointed hat. In Eastern Orthodox iconography, he is often shown holding a book of the Gospels, with Jesus Christ over one shoulder and Theotokos, the Greek name for Mary, Mother of Jesus, over the other.

As the story goes, Nicholas' wealthy parents raised him to be a devout Christian. His parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.

Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

It was under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, that Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith and 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, December 6th (December 19 on the Julian Calendar).

There have been many stories through the centuries. Legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. Perhaps these accounts will help us understand his extra-ordinary character and why he was so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.

This is what Christmas Day and St. Nicholas Day is to this NW Okie!

There is one story that 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 stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or 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. Does this sound familiar yet?

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 (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, who were 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.

Saint Nicholas

Wikipedia says, "(Greek: Άγιος Νικόλαος , Agios ["saint"] Nikolaos ["victory of the people"]) (270 - 6 December 346) is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a saint and Bishop of Myra (Demre, in Lycia, part of modern-day Turkey). Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose English name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as is common for early Christian saints. In 1087, his relics were furtively translated to Bari, in southeastern Italy; for this reason, he is also known as, Nicholas of Bari."

They say that the historical Saint Nicholas is remembered and revered among Catholic and Orthodox Christians and is also honoured by various Anglican and Lutheran churches. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, and children, and students in Greece, Belgium, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro. He is also the patron saint of Barranquilla, Bari, Amsterdam, Beit Jala, Siggiewi and Liverpool.

It was in 1809 that the New-York Historical Society convened and retroactively named Santa Claus the patron saint of Nieuw Amsterdam, the Dutch name for New York City.

As to the talk of Sinterklaas, he was also a patron of the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine emperors, who protected his relics in Bari. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.

St. Nicholas Day is all about the "Spirits of Giving Around the World." In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas or St. Nicholas can be found wearing traditional bishop's robes, as he rides into towns across Holland on a white horse where he is typically greeted with a parade. Each year, Dutch television broadcasts the official arrival of St. Nicholas live to the nation.

The children of Holland look forward with excitement to his arrival on the evening of December 5, putting out carrots and hay for his horse. In return they receive gifts, candies, cookies, fruit and nuts. The children sometimes get letters from St. Nick filled with clever poetry.

To some and to me, St. Nicholas Day (Christmas) is not about the celebration of a birth, but is about the "Spirit of Giving Around the World." It is perfectly alright with me if you want to celebrate Christmas as a birth, though. I can respect that. I prefer to celebrate Christmas as a season for giving!

WHY can't we all be like St. Nicholas, known for our generosity and giving! People Helping People!
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