Saint Nicholas Day
Do you know the story behind Saint Nicholas' day? Do you want to know when and why it all started? Take a look!
On December 6th, most European countries celebrate the so-called Saint Nicholas' feast day. The celebration is animated with stories of St. Nicholas' kindness, good will, and generous heart. For instance, in Poland and Germany boys would dress as bishops and beg alms for the poor people, and sometimes even for themselves. In Belgium and Netherlands it was believed that St. Nicholas would arrive on a steamship from Spain, and then would take a white horse to give away gifts, like good old Santa generally does every winter holidays. In many parts of Europe, this day, December the 6th, remains the most important day for giving gifts and spreading joy and merry thoughts to those around you.
In Netherlands for instance, Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the eve of December 5th, by giving away candies, chocolates, small presents, and so on. Dutch kids use to put carrots and hay in their shoes and boots for St. Nicholas' horse, in the hope that the man will leave them some nice gifts in return. A similar tradition can be found in Romania, where children use to clean and polish their boots and shoes for Saint Nicholas to leave them some sweets and gifts in those shoes. At any rate, the good thing about celebrating such a day by sharing gifts is that it can help people focus on the true meaning of Christmas, rather than on simply exchanging presents on X-mas day.
Saint Nicholas is in fact the one from whom the whole story of Santa Clause started. Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in a village called Patara. In those times, that area belonged to Greece, although it is nowadays part of Turkey. He was born in a well-provided family and was given a Christian education. However, his parents died in an epidemic when he was at a young age. Following Jesus' recommendation for the rich to sell everything and give the money to the poor, Nicholas indeed did such a rare thing. So, he provided for those in suffering, in poverty, in need out of his own large pocket. He thus lived a life of obedience towards God and was made bishop while he was still in his youth. He became famous in those lands for his great generosity, for his love for children and his care for ships and sailors.
There are many stories about St. Nicholas as a protector of children and the innocent. One such story takes place a long time after his death. Thus, in the town of Myra people were celebrating Saint Nicholas' feast day when there came a gang of Arabic pirates from Crete. These pirates stole riches and treasures from the Church of St. Nicholas in order to take them as their capture. And while they were preparing to leave the town, they kidnapped a boy named Basilios, whom they intended to turn into a slave and bring him along with them. The ruler or the so-called emir employed Basilios as his personal cup-bearer. The reason was that Basilios did not understand the emir's language, and therefore he could not pass on information about the emir to people around him. So Basilios' job for the next year was to bring the emir's drink in a splendid golden cup. Of course, the boy's parents back home were devastated, as Basilios was also their only child. For them, that year was a very painful one, until the next Saint Nicholas' feast day came again. But Basilios' mother would not participate in the feast, because for her that day could only bring back sad memories. Nonetheless, someone convinced her at least to have a small, quiet celebration at home, and pray for Basilios and his safety there, in the far lands the pirates had taken him. In the meantime, while Basilios was working for the emir, something uncommon happened: he simply vanished from sight. Saint Nicholas showed himself to the astonished and frightened boy, and took him back home to the town of Myra. So the boy appeared in front of his parents, still carrying the emir's golden cup in his hands.
This is in fact the first story attesting St. Nicholas' actions of protecting the innocent children. And this actually became his main role in the Western countries.
In Netherlands for instance, Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the eve of December 5th, by giving away candies, chocolates, small presents, and so on. Dutch kids use to put carrots and hay in their shoes and boots for St. Nicholas' horse, in the hope that the man will leave them some nice gifts in return. A similar tradition can be found in Romania, where children use to clean and polish their boots and shoes for Saint Nicholas to leave them some sweets and gifts in those shoes. At any rate, the good thing about celebrating such a day by sharing gifts is that it can help people focus on the true meaning of Christmas, rather than on simply exchanging presents on X-mas day.
Saint Nicholas is in fact the one from whom the whole story of Santa Clause started. Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in a village called Patara. In those times, that area belonged to Greece, although it is nowadays part of Turkey. He was born in a well-provided family and was given a Christian education. However, his parents died in an epidemic when he was at a young age. Following Jesus' recommendation for the rich to sell everything and give the money to the poor, Nicholas indeed did such a rare thing. So, he provided for those in suffering, in poverty, in need out of his own large pocket. He thus lived a life of obedience towards God and was made bishop while he was still in his youth. He became famous in those lands for his great generosity, for his love for children and his care for ships and sailors.
There are many stories about St. Nicholas as a protector of children and the innocent. One such story takes place a long time after his death. Thus, in the town of Myra people were celebrating Saint Nicholas' feast day when there came a gang of Arabic pirates from Crete. These pirates stole riches and treasures from the Church of St. Nicholas in order to take them as their capture. And while they were preparing to leave the town, they kidnapped a boy named Basilios, whom they intended to turn into a slave and bring him along with them. The ruler or the so-called emir employed Basilios as his personal cup-bearer. The reason was that Basilios did not understand the emir's language, and therefore he could not pass on information about the emir to people around him. So Basilios' job for the next year was to bring the emir's drink in a splendid golden cup. Of course, the boy's parents back home were devastated, as Basilios was also their only child. For them, that year was a very painful one, until the next Saint Nicholas' feast day came again. But Basilios' mother would not participate in the feast, because for her that day could only bring back sad memories. Nonetheless, someone convinced her at least to have a small, quiet celebration at home, and pray for Basilios and his safety there, in the far lands the pirates had taken him. In the meantime, while Basilios was working for the emir, something uncommon happened: he simply vanished from sight. Saint Nicholas showed himself to the astonished and frightened boy, and took him back home to the town of Myra. So the boy appeared in front of his parents, still carrying the emir's golden cup in his hands.
This is in fact the first story attesting St. Nicholas' actions of protecting the innocent children. And this actually became his main role in the Western countries.
Like This Article?
Follow:
Post Comment