Today is St Nicholas day, December 6. Saint Nicholas is remembered and revered among Catholic and Orthodox Christians, he is also honored by various Anglican and Lutheran churches. St Nicholas was born 270 A.D. in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He lived in Myra in the county of Lycia where he was a bishop. He was a part of the council of Nicaea, was persecuted under the Roman emperor Diocletion and died on December 6, AD 343.
Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need.
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 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.
We as a family look to celebrate St. Nicholas day by giving to someone that has a need. We do this in remembrance of a great saint who was following in the example of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave everything so that we might have life.
Happy Saint Nicholas day!
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