On the Eve of December 6th, many children in Europe were chanting;
St. Nicholas, mon bon patron,
Apportez-moi beaucoup de bon-bons
Plein mes bas et mes souliers:
Je serai sage toute l’annee.
St. Nicholas, my owner, bring me lots of candy, Fill the bottoms of my soles:I will behave all year
French children placed their shoes near the chimney last night, in hopes that St. Nicholas brought them gifts.
St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, (now known as Demre, Turkey), lived in the third century. Born to wealthy parents, he used his inheritance to help the needy. Throughout the centuries many stories have been told of his life and deeds. These legends will be passed to younger generations, as families across the world gather on December 6th.
The most famous 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). Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold as prostitutes. Mysteriously, three bags 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 the shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.
Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver and becomes the Patron Saint of children.
December 6 brings many celebrations in honor of St. Nicholas.
One of the largest celebrations is held in the village of St. Nicholas de Port, in Lorraine. There is a parade, music, religious ceremonies, fireworks, and of course, the magical arrival of St. Nicholas.
In honor of St. Nicholas and in the spirit of the season, I think we should also celebrate December 6th and give to a child in need. Gather around your fireplace today and tell your children and grand-children the real story behind Santa Claus.
If you would like additional information you can visit these sites.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org
Have a Wonderful St. Nicholas Day!
