 Yet
Another Look at Saint Nicholas
High Sonoran Style Magazine
by Karen Prioletti
During the winter season it is not at all uncommon to read about the legends
and stories of Saint Nicholas.
Even if you have read them before you just can't help reading them again. They
have somehow become part of the tradition that goes along with the holiday. The
fact is there are so many curious legends and stories in regards to Saint
Nicholas that no matter how many times you read them, you will probably learn
something you never knew before.
Some legends say... Nicholas' parents died at an early age leaving him with a
large inheritance which he used for acts of charity. As a young adult on his way
to to study in Myra, Turkey he saved the life of a sailor who fell overboard in
a storm. When he arrived he took the sailor to the church. Unknown to him, the
church had just lost their bishop, and in a dream, the parishioners were told to
elect the next person "a man of victory" (Greek: Nikei).
While Nicholas was praying, the grateful sailor told everyone this man Nikei-Laos
had save his life. When the church elders heard this, they had no choice but to
appoint Nicholas as their new bishop. That is how one legend says he became
Bishop of Myra. Either way his acts of kindness continued and include the story
of three sisters whose poor family did not have enough money for their dowry.
Wanting to help out, but not wanting his identity discovered, he is said to have
climbed on to the roof of their home consecutively for three nights. Each night
throwing three sacks of gold coins down the chimney.
The coins would land in each of the girl's stockings that had been hung by the
fire. When the money was found, the father hid behind he chimney to see who it
was that was helping them. Nicholas was discovered as he came along with more
gold. When confronted by the father, Nicholas asked not to be exposed. One
account says the father told everyone what a generous man he was. Another says
that the people in the town knew he had to be the one responsible and after he
died continued to carry on the anonymous gift giving tradition.
One of Saint Nicholas' miracles took place when he was in an area where there
had been a famine. A greedy butcher lured three children into his house, killed
them and put them into a barrel to cure, hoping eventually to pass them off as
ham. Saint Nicholas discovered and resurrected the boys from the barrel. Another
legend says that they were really three clerks who needed a place to stay for
the night. The man killed them, and his wife suggested he turn them into meat
pies.
Did you know? Some historians believe that Nicholas' feast date, December 6,
which was originally the date for the celebration of the goddess Diana's birth
was chosen to replace pagan celebrations?
Saint Nicholas day, December 6th is the day when much of Europe celebrates the
gift giving legends. That three gold balls traditionally were hung outside a
pawnshop to symbolize the three sacks of gold Nicholas threw down the chimney of
the sisters' house? Hence one of his patronages is pawnbrokers.
In 1087 sailors from Bari Italy stole the remains from Nicholas' tomb and
brought them to Bari where they remain to this day. Oil that is emitted from the
saint's bones is said to emit a sweet smell and has been called Manna di St.
Nicola. After examination it was discovered that the substance is a combination
of hydrogen and oxygen, and due to the low content of bacteria it was declared
"biologically pure."
Only one scientific study has ever been allowed on the bones of Saint Nicholas,
which revealed that he was no more than five feet tall and had a broken nose.
Jolly Old Nick!
Saint Nicholas is a man of many names. He is Father Christmas in Britain,
Sint-Nikolaas in Belgium and Sao Nicolau in Portugal. In the U.S. he is assisted
by tiny elves but in the Netherlands Sinterklass is accompanied by "Zwarte
Pieten" (black Petes), black faced rascals dressed in Moorish costumes.
Speaking of helpers, some of them sound downright scary. In parts of Austria the
krampusse wear masks and drag chains behind them, and in Germany it is Knecht
Ruprecht who does Nicholas' dirty work threatening misbehaving children. The
Swiss call him Schmutzli and his favorite form of punishment is something about
a sack and the Black Forest.
In France it's Pere Fouettard who carries sticks with the express intention of
finding "bad children". It's not all bad news though, in the Czech Republic and
Slovenia there is also an angel in the mix just to balance things out.
Learn more about The Nanta Bagg.
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