Saint Nicholas: The True Story Behind the Legend

This week, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Nicholas, a saint we all know. Or do we?

Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop in what is now Turkey, where he was famous for his generosity to the poor. He was also a delegate to the Council of Nicaea when the Church declared Jesus to be both human and divine.

Few details of his life are known, but there are many legends, most all of them, emphasizing his compassion and his kindness to people in need.

One story has him secretly giving three bags of gold coins to three very poor women to pay for their dowry. And this is the origin of gift giving on December 6th, the day we celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas died around the year 350, and his relics were moved to Italy around 1087 when they were in danger of being desecrated by the Turks.

For centuries, Saint Nicholas was one of the most popular saints in Europe, with many churches, chapels, and altars raised in his honor. He was named the patron saint of Greece, Russia, Sicily, and many cities and towns.

Today, Saint Nicholas is widely venerated in the Orthodox Church and among Catholics of the Eastern Rite and many parts of Central and Northern Europe, especially by children.

But in the United States, devotion to Saint Nicholas is virtually non-existent.

Blame it on Clement Moore, that professor of Biblical studies from the Episcopal Church in New York. In 1823 he published a poem titled “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”,

which today is much better known as “T’was the Night Before Christmas.”

Moore's poem kicked off a Santa Claus phenomenon,

but it had the unintentional effect in that it all but guaranteed that devotion to Saint Nicholas in the United States

never took root.

We shouldn't be surprised. How can one be asked to pray to a right jolly old elf?

We don't have to choose between Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus. They are two different figures, and we can have them both.

Let Santa keep what's his. Reindeer, a sleigh, and the magic of presents underneath the Christmas tree. And let Saint Nicholas have what is his. A feast day and a mass in his honor on December 6th. And the tradition of giving children a small gift or some chocolates as a prelude to Christmas. Most importantly, let us honor Saint Nicholas by imitating his virtues, especially his compassion, his kindness and his generosity to the poor.

Saint Nicholas, pray for us.