But he left behind no writings: the legends surrounding his life are all we have. St. Nicholas was a bishop who was known for his good deeds, especially for the needy and children. He often gave generously and anonymously (without anyone knowing the gifts were from him). In 1087 Italian sailors or merchants stole his alleged remains from Myra and took them to Bari, Italy; this removal greatly increased the saints popularity in Europe, and Bari became one of the most crowded of all pilgrimage centres. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Wilkinson put a human face on Santa's original namesakeone with a badly broken nose, possibly suffered during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It was published anonymously the next year, and to this day the plump, jolly Santa described therein rides a sleigh driven by eight familiar reindeer. "[80] Kazan believes the pelvis fragment may come from the same individual as the skeleton divided between the churches in Bari and Venice,[80][96][66] since the bone they tested comes from the left pubis, and the only pelvis bone in the collection at Bari is the left ilium. Candy canes, which have the shape of a bishops crosier, are also given. Gradually, small jewelry, wine and luxury foods became gifts of choice as well. "[22][31] The man could not afford proper dowries for his three daughters. It is celebrated as a Christian festival with particular regard to Saint Nicholas' reputation as a . (Sound familiar?) Significant among these were the pagan Knecht Ruprecht and the Roman figure of Befana, as well as the Christ Child (Christkind, or Kris Kringle). Bishop Henri insisted for the fleet to turn back and set anchor in Myra. Nicholas's veneration by Crusaders helped promote his cult throughout western Europe. Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 5th in The Netherlands and on December 19th in some Eastern Christian countries. Nicholas: The Real Santa Claus. [39] The facial reconstruction was produced by Caroline Wilkinson at the University of Manchester and was shown on a BBC2 TV program The Real Face of Santa. Washington Irving's 1809 book Knickerbocker's History of New York first portrayed a pipe-smoking Nicholas soaring over the rooftops in a flying wagon, delivering presents to good girls and boys and switches to bad ones. Usually when the Christmas season prompts talk of the truth about St. Nicholas or Santa Claus, the problem is how to explain to kids how all those presents really get under the tree. Wheeler, Rosenthal, "St Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas", p. 96, Nelson Reference & Electronic, 2005. [97], In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Saint Nicholas's memory is celebrated on almost every Thursday of the year (together with the Apostles) with special hymns to him which are found in the liturgical book known as the Octoechos. His connection to the American character of Santa Claus is faint, but it can be traced. St. Nicholas has two feast days. St. Nicholas' Day parades In the Netherlands, the festivities kick off with parades around the country, marking Saint Nicholas' arrival from Spain. In medieval times, Christian nuns in Belgium and France began to deposit baskets of food and clothes anonymously at the doorsteps of the needy, which gave rise to the practice of gift giving on Saint Nicholas Day. These expert tips could save your lifewhether you're on the trail or in your own backyard. In many places, children leave letters for St. Nicholas and carrots or grass for his donkey or horse. The progenitor of the modern American Santa was born in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire, his legend evolved across northern Europe, and he finally assumed his now-familiar form on the shores of the New World. In the better-known tale, three young girls are saved from a life of prostitution when young Bishop Nicholas secretly delivers three bags of gold to their indebted father, which can be used for their dowries. Santa remains a politicized figure around the world. "Here we finally have the appearance of a Santa Claus," Bowler said. Consider these factors. History St. Nicholas St. Nicholas Other early stories tell of him calming a storm at sea, saving three innocent soldiers from wrongful execution, and chopping down a tree possessed by a demon. In Germany, Knecht Ruprecht serves as St. Nicholass servant and gives children who do not know their prayers sticks, stones, or coal. The True History of St. Nicholas Is a Christmas Mystery - TIME [12] Adam C. English notes that lists of the attendees at Nicaea vary considerably, with shorter lists only including roughly 200 names, but longer lists including around 300. [92], Whereas the devotional importance of relics and the economics associated with pilgrimages caused the remains of most saints to be divided up and spread over numerous churches in several countries, Saint Nicholas is unusual in that most of his bones have been preserved in one spot: his grave crypt in Bari. [119], In depictions of Saint Nicholas from Bari, he is usually shown as dark-skinned, probably to emphasize his foreign origin. The myrrh is collected from a sarcophagus which is located in the basilica vault and could be obtained in the shop nearby. [87] The sailors who had transported the bones gave one tooth and two fragments chipped from Nicholas's sarcophagus to the Norman knight William Pantulf. Today we remember Saint Nicholas, who was the Bishop of Myra in the province of Lycia during the fourth century. Thus, Nicholas became venerated as the patron saint of sailors and travelers. Although the Crusaders generally favored warrior saints, which Saint Nicholas was not, the presence of his relics in Bari made him materially accessible. 490. [29][55] Jona Lendering opines that the story is "without any historical value". Or do they? What is Gullah Geechee food and how do you make it? [36] Nicholas's name appears on a total of three early lists, one of which, Theodore the Lector, is generally considered to be the most accurate. He is mentioned in the Liturgy of Preparation during the Divine Liturgy (Eastern Orthodox Eucharist) and during the All-Night Vigil. Most people know that Nicholas' feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, the day he died in the year 343, but for East Slavs, as well as the people of Bari, Italy . Then, during the early decades of the 19th century, all that changed thanks to a series of poets and writers who strove to make Christmas a family celebrationby reviving and remaking St. Nicholas. In the morning, they find small presents under their pillows or in the shoes, stockings, or plates they have set out for him. The bishop not only sensed the crime, but resurrected the victims as well. There St. Nicholas is said to arrive on horseback on his feast day, dressed in a bishops red robe and mitre and accompanied by Black Peter (Zwarte Piet), variously described as a freed slave or a Moor, to help him distribute sweets and presents to good children or lumps of coal, potatoes, or switches to bad ones. Nicholas confronted the generals for allowing their soldiers to misbehave and the generals brought an end to the looting. "That was problematic," Bowler said. Soon She'll Start 7th Grade, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The True History of St. Nicholas Is a Christmas Mystery, Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? When did St. Nick's Day come to America? Nicholass miracles were a favourite subject for medieval artists and liturgical plays, and his traditional feast day was the occasion for the ceremonies of the Boy Bishop, a widespread European custom in which a boy was elected bishop and reigned until Holy Innocents Day (December 28). St. Nicholas Day - German Culture Saint Nicholas's name only appears on the longer lists, not the shorter ones. [55], According to English, eventually, people who had forgotten or never learned the story began misinterpreting representations of it. Christmas in JulyInside a Santa Summer Camp. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. In 1822 Clement Clarke Moore wrote "A Visit From St. Nicholas," better known today as "The Night Before Christmas," for his six children, with no intention of adding to the fledgling Santa Claus phenomenon. Many believe that it houses the mortal remains and holy relics of St. Nicholas. Soon after the transfer of Saint Nicholas's relics from Myra to Bari, a Russian version of his Life and an account of the transfer of his relics were written by a contemporary to this event. [10][11] Any writings Nicholas himself may have produced have been lost and he is not mentioned by any contemporary chroniclers. [29], After his parents died, Nicholas is said to have distributed their wealth to the poor. [121], In 1948, Benjamin Britten completed a cantata, Saint Nicolas on a text by Eric Crozier which covers the saint's legendary life in a dramatic sequence of events. By about 1200, explained University of Manitoba historian Gerry Bowler, author of Santa Claus: A Biography, he became known as a patron of children and magical gift bringer because of two great stories from his life. Who were the women Jack the Ripper killed? St. Nicholas, upon whom the figure of Santa Claus is based, was the bishop of Myra (today called Demre), on the Mediterranean coast of modern-day Turkey. The American mispronunciationSanta Clauseventually took on a life of its own. Christmas, Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas bringing presents for the children, extreme extraordinary illustration with both, scrap-picture, Germany, circa 1910. [102] According to another source, on 6 December every sailor or ex-sailor of the Low Countries (which at that time was virtually all of the male population) would descend to the harbour towns to participate in a church celebration for their patron saint. [106] St. Nicholas Park, located at the intersection of St. Nicholas Avenue and 127th Street, in an area originally settled by Dutch farmers, is named for St. Nicholas of Myra. According to tradition, he was born in the ancient Lycian seaport city of Patara, and, when young, traveled to Palestine and Egypt. [20], Despite its extremely late date, Michael the Archimandrite's Life of Saint Nicholas is believed to heavily rely on older written sources and oral traditions. As the industrial revolution made consumer goods more affordable for all, popular depictions of that version of Santa Claus increased as well, along with the traditions of Christmas cards and Christmas trees. He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece; of charitable fraternities and guilds; of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers; and of such cities as Fribourg, in Switzerland, and Moscow. St. Nick's Day was brought to the United States with German immigration that began in the 1600s. [59][40] Two years later, Pope Urban II inaugurated a new church, the Basilica di San Nicola, to Saint Nicholas in Bari. For the gift-bearing figure in modern folklore and popular culture, see, "Nicholas of Myra" redirects here. "What he's done is pretty much tame these Grimm's Fairy Tales-type characters from the late medieval days," Bowler said. Meteorologists have said that the storm will bring a "potentially historic" amount of rain that may cause "life-threatening" and "catastrophic" flooding in Baja and the Southwestern . [16] The Byzantine historian Procopius also mentions that the Emperor Justinian I (ruled 527565) renovated churches in Constantinople dedicated to Saint Nicholas and Saint Priscus,[17][16] which may have originally been built as early as c. (See "Christmas in JulyInside a Santa Summer Camp."). But familiar as the poem is, it still leaves much to the imagination, and the 19th century saw Santa appear in different-colored clothing, in sizes from miniature to massive, and in a variety of different guises. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In Monaco, the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate was built from 1874 on the site of St Nicholas's church, founded in 1252. This and his miracle of him resurrecting the three butchered children made Saint Nicholas a patron saint of children and later students as well. Some churches have special services dedicated to the feast of St Nicholas on this day. However, according to Judith Flanders, author of the new Christmas: A Biography, that person is almost certainly an invention, because there arent reliable historical documents that prove he was real. This page was last edited on 19 August 2023, at 02:20. Magazines, She Wasn't Able to Get An Abortion. "So the Christ child was often given a scary helper to do the lugging of presents and the threatening of kids that doesn't seem appropriate coming from the baby Jesus. Yet the character has proved an enduring icon of Christmas. Write to Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com. All thats left for experts to work off are writings, such as diary entries, that show what people believed him to be. "When the Soviet Union was formed, the communists abolished the celebration of Christmas and gift bringers," Bowler said. Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure [1] originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve to "nice" children, [2] and either coal or nothing to "naughty" children. For many people around the world, the jolly, red-suited, white-bearded figure is a central part of the holiday's celebrationand commercialization.

As you wait for Santa to come down your chimney tonight, browse through these images of Old Saint Nick from the National Geographic photo archive.

By Anna Lukacs, photo gallery by Kathy Moran

. [23] Traditionally, Nicholas was born in the city of Patara (Lycia et Pamphylia), a port on the Mediterranean Sea,[9] in Asia Minor in the Roman Empire, to a wealthy family of Greek Christians. [45] The generals' enemies, however, slandered them to the consul Ablabius, telling him that they had not really put down the revolt, but instead encouraged their own soldiers to join it. Here's why it's important. The BBC's Mark Lowen visited the southern Turkish town of Demre to trace the roots of old Santa. What exactly is lab-grown meat? In his early 19th century satirical history of New York, Knickerbockers History of New York, he claimed that celebrating the saint was an old Dutch tradition of early New Amsterdam. Many of these bones were initially kept in Constantinople,[88] but, after the Sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, these fragments were scattered across western Europe. According to Professor Higham, most of the relics the team has examined turn out to be too recent to have actually belonged to the saint to whom they are attributed, but he states, "This bone fragment, in contrast, suggests that we could possibly be looking at remains from St Nicholas himself. [79], The sailors from Bari took only the main bones of Nicholas's skeleton, leaving all the minor fragments in the grave. This much is clear: St. Nicholas, now and throughout history, is whoever people want him to be. Other Dutch names for the figure include De Sint ("The Saint"), De Goede Sint ("The Good Saint") and De Goedheiligman ("The Good Holy Man"). Struggling to assess pandemic risks? [59][68][69][70], Adam C. English describes the removal of the relics from Myra as "essentially a holy robbery" and notes the thieves were not only afraid of being caught or chased after by the locals, but also the power of Saint Nicholas himself. When evening comes, St. Nicholas, a reverend gray-haired figure with flowing beard . Under various guises, St. Nicholas was transformed into a similar benevolent gift-giving figure in the Netherlands, Belgium, and other northern European countries. Another finger was held in Ventimiglia in Liguria. Nicholass existence is not attested by any historical document, so nothing certain is known of his life except that he was probably bishop of Myra in the 4th century. Not to be confused with, Eastern Orthodox Feast Days for Saint Nicholas of Myra in Lycia. Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness, which gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy. [80] In the absence of DNA testing, however, it is not yet possible to know for certain whether the pelvis is from the same man. [13] Furthermore, all written records were kept on papyrus or parchment, which were less durable than modern paper, and texts needed to be periodically recopied by hand onto new material in order to be preserved. Saint Nicholas | Biography, Facts, Patron Saint, Legends, & Feast Day Unbeknownst to them, the waters natural chemistry slows the decay of human remains. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia and Greece, of a number of cities, and of sailors and children, among many other groups, and was noted for his generosity. The Dec. 6 Feast of. Should you curl up in a ball or make yourself seem big and scary? He lost both of his parents as a young man and reportedly used his inheritance to help the poor. In one such story, he saved three sisters from being sold into slavery by their father by giving them a dowry that allowed the girls to get married. Nicholas entered an inn whose keeper had just murdered three boys and pickled their dismembered bodies in basement barrels. He may have attended the first Council of Nicaea (325), where he allegedly struck the heretic Arius in the face. Dutch colonists took this tradition with them to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the American colonies in the 17th century. As St. Nicholas grew more popular, he also became known as the protector of children and sailors. He became bishop of Myra, a small Roman town in modern Turkey. All rights reserved. [98], Devotional akathists and canons have been composed in his honour, and are frequently chanted by the faithful as they ask for his intercession. (Related: "Who Is Krampus? He became the patron saint of multiple countries, of charitable fraternities and guilds, and of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers. [58], It is said that, in Myra, the relics of Saint Nicholas each year exuded a clear watery liquid which smelled like rose water, called manna, or myrrh, which was believed by the faithful to possess miraculous powers. [17], Nicholas's name also occurs as "Nicholas of Myra of Lycia" on the tenth line of a list of attendees at the Council of Nicaea recorded by the historian Theodoret in the Historiae Ecclesiasticae Tripartitae Epitome, written sometime between 510 and 515. He was later cast into prison during the persecution of Diocletian, but was released after the accession of Constantine. Corrections? The sailors at first disliked the request, because the wheat had to be weighed accurately and delivered to the emperor. 11 Facts About St. Nicholas. But his historical journey is even longer and more fantastic than his annual, one-night circumnavigation of the globe. The ocean has a 'conveyer belt.' Origin of Santa ::: St. Nicholas Center Millions of Americans drink raw milkbut is it safe? Eventually, the scene became so widely reproduced that, rather than showing the whole scene, artists began to merely depict Saint Nicholas with three naked children and a wooden barrel at his feet. In 2017, two researchers from Oxford University, Professor Tom Higham and Doctor Georges Kazan, radiocarbon dated a fragment of a pelvis claimed to belong to Saint Nicholas. What Irving does deserve credit for is promoting the mythical Dutch past of the benevolent St. Nicholas. [81] The city of Venice had interest in obtaining the remaining fragments of his skeleton. St. Louis City SC is still hot: STL Soccer Talk - STLtoday.com

Choctaw Nicoma Park School Calendar 23-24, Richland School District Ms Staff Directory, Articles W