Saint Nicholas Day and how it influenced Christmas
Nicholas became known in Christian Europe for being kind to children and helping those in need. In America, his stories influenced Santa Claus and some modern traditions
Santa Claus is real, or at least the inspiration for the character was. Saint Nicholas was a historical figure that lived around the 4th century. However, very little is known about his life and historians debate about several events that mention him, including stories and legends that made him become one of the most beloved Christian saints in the next centuries.
Although Santa Claus is probably more well-known — as well as Christmas —, Saint Nicholas is still celebrated in some parts of the world, with old traditions (that influenced new ones).
Who was Saint Nicholas?
According to Christian accounts, Nicholas was born in a rich family around the year 343, in Patara (Lycia et Pamphylia), a port on the Mediterranean Sea, in Asia Minor, in the Roman Empire. After his parents died during an epidemic, he received a divine call to sell his belongings and give his money to the poor, which he did. Some accounts say that he had an uncle who was the Bishop of Myra and that, after recognizing his nephew’s calling, he ordained him as a priest.
One of the most famous stories about Nicholas says that he once heard of a faithful father of three young girls who needed help. The man had once been wealthy but he lost all his money, so he could not afford proper dowries for his daughters, which would result in them being unmarried and probably be forced into prostitution. Nicholas decided to help; however, he was too modest to offer public help, so he went to the house in the night and threw a purse with gold coins through a window. The father quickly arranged a marriage for his first daughter. After she married, Nicholas threw another bag through the window and the man arranged a wedding for the second daughter.
Before Nicholas could throw another bag for the third daughter, he was discovered by the father, who immediately fell on his knees thanking him. Nicholas ordered him to keep the favor a secret.
Another tale of Nicholas says he traveled to the Holy Land. Before arriving, his ship was almost destroyed by a storm but he miraculously made it stop. He became venerated as the patron saint of sailors and travelers. It is said that he also traveled to Palestine and Egypt. After returning to Lycia, he became Bishop of Myra, taking the place of his uncle.
Under the rule of Roman Emperor Diocletian, Christians were persecuted. Because of his work, Nicholas was exiled, imprisoned and tortured. However, after Constantine the Great became Emperor, he was released.
It is said that Nicholas was one of the attendees of the First Council of Nicaea, a council of every bishop of the Christian church within the Roman Empire. A later legend holds that, during the Council, Nicholas punched Arius, who he considered a heretic.
Other stories about Nicholas portray him as benevolent to children. It is said that he resurrected three children that had died after a famine, and that — after requesting wheat from a group of sailors to feed the starved — they gave him a part. After arriving to their destination, they found that their load had not changed.
After his stories became known to Christian followers, thousands of churches were dedicated to him, including one built by Roman emperor Justinian I at Constantinople around the 6th century. Nicholas relics remain in the basilica of San Nicola at Bari —which to this day is visited by pilgrims and tourists— in southern Italy, but other churches around the world have acquired fragments. St. Nicholas is still venerated by Catholics and Orthodox, and “honored” by Protestants.
Saint Nicholas Day
The Feast of Saint Nicholas, also known as Saint Nicholas Day, is observed on 5 or 6 December in Western Christian countries. There are different traditions in several European countries linked to children expecting gifts. For example, in Poland and Ukraine, children expect Nicholas to come and give them a present under their pillows. In the Netherlands and Belgium there are similar customs. In some parts of the U.S., children leave their shoes in the foyer, expecting to receive coins from Nicholas. In some countries, the feast is celebrated on the 6, while others do it on the eve of the 5.
These traditions directly influenced modern Christmas; the American Santa Claus and the British Father Christmas are variations of Saint Nicholas.
What’s his connection to Christmas?
After the era of Reformation, in which the Christian church suffered various changes, most Protestant countries in Europe stopped venerating Nicholas, except for Holland, where he became known as Sinterklaas, which was a Dutch variant of his name. Religious colonists from that country who arrived in America in the 17th century took the tradition of Sinterklass with them, later becoming Santa Claus for the English-speaking majority.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition
