The Legend of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus)
Throughout his life, St. Nicholas tried to help others, inspiring them to imitate his virtues. Legends of his unselfish giving spread all over Europe, and accounts of his heroic deeds blended with regional folklore. Eventually, the image of the stately saint was transformed onto an almost mystical being, one known for rewarding the good and punishing the bad.
Santa Claus has become the most favoured Christmas symbol. The image of Santa flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and leaving gifts for every child is well know throughout the world.
On the night before Christmas, millions of children now drool of the prospects of what Santa may bring. When they awake they will rush to check their stockings to see if Santa Claus has been and left them a gift.
Santa on Sleigh delivering gifts
Santa Claus lives in legend but Santa Claus was a real man. Saint Nicholas, a monk, who became the Bishop of Myra. It is believed that St. Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his kindness and piety, and a champion of the needy, especially children, he was legendary for his generosity.
Nicholas was the child of wealthy parents, and at their death, they left him a large inheritance. He decided to use his inheritance to help those less fortunate.
Nicholas became the subject of many legends the most famous being the story of three sisters. This story illustrates his benevolence, with two of the basic principles of the holiday spirit, giving to others and helping those less fortunate, as well as the tradition of hanging a stocking by the fireplace.
According to the legend, there were three maidens whose family had become bankrupt. As their father could not afford a dowry, none of them could marry. So the father was considering selling one of his daughters into slavery to get a dowry for the other daughters. Saint Nicholas heard of the family's troubles, and went to their home late one evening and anonymously threw three bags of gold down the chimney. Miraculously, a bag fell into each of the sisters stockings, that were hanging by the fireplace to dry. His kind gift made it possible for all three sisters to marry.
Santa or Saint Nicholas in red robes
Over time the legend of kind Nicholas traveling and giving gifts, spread far and wide and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. Nicholas became the patron Saint of Children in Russia, and other Eastern European countries, where children would leave their shoes or stockings out in hopes that St. Nicholas would come in the night and leave presents of chocolate and fruit.
Late in the 11th century religious soldiers from Italy took the remains of Saint Nicholas with them back to Italy. They built a church in his honor in the town of Bari, in southern Italy. Christian pilgrims from all over the world came to visit the church of Saint Nicholas. These pilgrims spread the legend of Saint Nicholas in their native lands.
When the Dutch colonists traveled to America, they brought with them their traditions of Sinterklaas (meaning St. Nicholas), an austere bishop who wore a red bishop's costume and rode on a white horse. In their excitement, many English-speaking children said the name so quickly that Sinterklaas sounded like Santy Claus. After years of mispronunciation, the Dutch words for Saint Nicholas, evolved into Santa Claus.
Jelly Belly Santa with black belt
The American image of Santa Claus would gradually evolve from an austere Bishop in Red Robes into that of a jolly old man with a big warm smile. He is now mostly pictured as the round and plump "Ho Ho Ho'ing" Santa Claus who flies a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers delivering gifts to the children of the world. See The Many Faces of Santa
So Santa Claus really is still here among us each Christmas, helping us all to celebrate "peace on earth and goodwill towards all men".
Santa Claus has become the most favoured Christmas symbol. The image of Santa flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and leaving gifts for every child is well know throughout the world.
On the night before Christmas, millions of children now drool of the prospects of what Santa may bring. When they awake they will rush to check their stockings to see if Santa Claus has been and left them a gift.
Santa on Sleigh delivering gifts
Santa Claus lives in legend but Santa Claus was a real man. Saint Nicholas, a monk, who became the Bishop of Myra. It is believed that St. Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his kindness and piety, and a champion of the needy, especially children, he was legendary for his generosity.
Nicholas was the child of wealthy parents, and at their death, they left him a large inheritance. He decided to use his inheritance to help those less fortunate.
Nicholas became the subject of many legends the most famous being the story of three sisters. This story illustrates his benevolence, with two of the basic principles of the holiday spirit, giving to others and helping those less fortunate, as well as the tradition of hanging a stocking by the fireplace.
According to the legend, there were three maidens whose family had become bankrupt. As their father could not afford a dowry, none of them could marry. So the father was considering selling one of his daughters into slavery to get a dowry for the other daughters. Saint Nicholas heard of the family's troubles, and went to their home late one evening and anonymously threw three bags of gold down the chimney. Miraculously, a bag fell into each of the sisters stockings, that were hanging by the fireplace to dry. His kind gift made it possible for all three sisters to marry.
Santa or Saint Nicholas in red robes
Over time the legend of kind Nicholas traveling and giving gifts, spread far and wide and he became known as the protector of children and sailors. Nicholas became the patron Saint of Children in Russia, and other Eastern European countries, where children would leave their shoes or stockings out in hopes that St. Nicholas would come in the night and leave presents of chocolate and fruit.
Late in the 11th century religious soldiers from Italy took the remains of Saint Nicholas with them back to Italy. They built a church in his honor in the town of Bari, in southern Italy. Christian pilgrims from all over the world came to visit the church of Saint Nicholas. These pilgrims spread the legend of Saint Nicholas in their native lands.
When the Dutch colonists traveled to America, they brought with them their traditions of Sinterklaas (meaning St. Nicholas), an austere bishop who wore a red bishop's costume and rode on a white horse. In their excitement, many English-speaking children said the name so quickly that Sinterklaas sounded like Santy Claus. After years of mispronunciation, the Dutch words for Saint Nicholas, evolved into Santa Claus.
Jelly Belly Santa with black belt
The American image of Santa Claus would gradually evolve from an austere Bishop in Red Robes into that of a jolly old man with a big warm smile. He is now mostly pictured as the round and plump "Ho Ho Ho'ing" Santa Claus who flies a sleigh pulled by eight reindeers delivering gifts to the children of the world. See The Many Faces of Santa
So Santa Claus really is still here among us each Christmas, helping us all to celebrate "peace on earth and goodwill towards all men".
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