Saint Nicholas Tradition
We crazy Catholics have saints that we look to for guidance and intercession, and the Church has given them feast days to commemorate them. Tomorrow is St. Nicholas' feast day.
Now we all know St. Nick is the inspiration for Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, the big guy up North. But in reality, he was a popular priest then bishop. He became aware of a family that had 3 daughters, and no money for dowries for them. The legend is that for each daughter, Bishop Nicholas would throw a bag of gold for a dowry down the chimney anonymously, and was found out later.
Our family observes St Nicholas Day. The children put out pots and eventually St Nicholas brings small tokens. naughty children would get a lump of coal or a stick as a warning. In 2 generations, there have only been 2 occurences of that known...and one was my (very disappointed) sister!
I'm the resident St Nicholas for my own kids, my parents, a cousin of mine who has 6 kids, and our dear friends. Maybe by suggesting it here, I might be St Nicholas to you too!
Kids putting their pots out for St Nicholas last year....
Comments
patron saint of sailors
I knew st. nick was the patron saint of little children and unmarried ladies, because he saved some children in danger and the dowries story, but i recently discovered he is the patron saint of sailors too. Basically, he's the saint for people in distress.
"I feel the greatest gift we can give to anybody is the gift of our honest self." Fred Rogers
Great Tradition
I am glad to see someone else practices this great holiday tradition! I remember when I was younger, each December 6, my sister and I would wait anxiously for the mysterious knock at the door that marked the arrival of St. Nick and some goodies. One year, the knock on the door came. Upon opening the door, we saw that it had been snowing. My sister and I always figure St. Nick was mom or dad, but alas, they were in the house with us, and there were no footprints in the snow leading to the porch!
I think it was last year that I found it had been my grandfather who snuck through the yard that year, reached over the porch banister, placed the items, and somehow knocked on the door. My sister and I were too dumb at that time to look for footprints in the side yard. Now I'm 32, and up until last year, I was convinced St. Nick had been there.
Cousin Mike