THE STORY OF SAINT NICHOLAS
Born of wealthy parents in 280 A.D. in a small town called Patara in Asia Minor, he lost his parents early by an epidemic, but not before they had given him the gift of faith.
Nicholas went to Myra, in Lycia, and lived a life of self-offering and giving, full of love and sacrifice and the spirit of Jesus. Nicholas entered the nearby monastery of Sion and subsequently became bishop of the metropolitan church in Myra (now Demre, Turkey).
Nicholas was imprisoned for his faith by the emperor Diocletion and released later by the emperor Constantine.
Many stories of his generosity have collected and spread. Stories how he begged for food for the poor; how he gave money to girls to use as a dowry to get a husband; how he would don a disguise and go out to give gifts to poor children. He gave away everything he had and all that he could gain from others.
Saint Nicholas died in 314 A.D. His remains now repose principally in Bari, Italy, having been transported there in 1087 A.D. after Myra fell to Islamic invaders. A fragrant liquid (myrrh) still exudes from the relics. Miracles are performed even today through the intercessions of St. Nicholas. Turkey also claims to possess bones of Saint Nicholas.
The feast of Saint Nicholas was abolished in some European countries after the Protestant reformation of the XVIth century. The Dutch, however, have preserved this ancient Catholic custom, and small Dutch children still await the visit of Sinter Klaas (Saint Nicholas) on the night of December 6. At the beginning of the XVIIth century, the Dutch emigrated to the United States and founded the colony of New Amsterdam which, in 1664, became New York. Over several decades, the Dutch custom of commemorating the feast of Saint Nicholas spread to the United States. Sinter Klaas quickly became Santa Claus for Americans. This thoughtful philanthropist, depicted as an old man in a white beard with a long caped coat or sometimes even in episcopal robes, remained, nonetheless, a moralistic figure. He rewarded deserving children and punished the difficult and unruly ones.
After several decades, Christian society found it more appropriate to bring this "children’s festival" closer to that of the Infant Jesus. Saint Nicholas henceforth made his rounds of Christian families during the night of December 24.
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