Nicholas of Myra or Saint Nicholas
Americans have made him into “Santa Claus,” but Saint Nicholas has a very different persona than the persona of Santa Claus that is prevalent in commercials, movies and folklore. He was not the plump man that is pictured to the left in this Netherland’s version of Sinterklaas. This picture does portray him in miter.
The real St. Nick was born on the Ides of March in 270A.D. He was born to wealthy parents who died when he was young. He was an orphan who took the money his parents left him and served others with it.
There are numerous stories of charity and anonymous service that surrounds the story of St. Nicholas. The most prominent story of Nicholas’ charity describes how Nicholas became aware of a man in Patara who was suddenly unable to provide a dowry for his three daughters. It was Nicholas who, under the cover of darkness, dropped three bags of gold into the man’s open window. This is where the tradition of children putting out their shoes on the Eve of St. Nicholas’ feast originates. They would awake to chocolate gold coins in their shoes.
Nicholas was eventually a bishop in the region. He was not a plump man. He is a far cry from the man that is a loose and hardly recognizable symbol of him today. He was rather a man who became known for his charity. It is said that people would give gifts anonymously to one another and say, St. Nicholas gave this to you. We remember this man of God on the anniversary of his death, December 6, 346.
So, let us all be thankful for men such as St. Nicholas, who model humble and charitable service.