Today is the feast of St. Nicholas. The children had thier shoes put out and woke up to a big beautiful yummy orange, a little bit of candy and a little trinket. Let's just say I woke to "Yeah, look at this Mom!" And St. Nicholas has always been generous not only with our children, but Steve was given some dark chocolate covered almonds and me dark chocolate covered cherries!
Last night we read the story of St. Nicholas. I explain to the children that St. Nicholas was a man, bishop-that had a great devotion to children, but was a pastor and bishop-and the good works he did for Jesus-have been carried on for all these years-hense we give Christmas presents, as he did to celebrate and glorify the gift of Jesus in the Manger along with the Three Kings gift to the infant Jesus.
Over the years, many other stories, legends, have been created and we know all these stories whether true or made up are done in the spirit of gift giving.
Something I learned today, when reading a little more on the Saint so I would have even more stories to tell the children today was that St. Nicholas is the patron for more things than any other Saint, including Sailors, Brides, guardian of classes, people, cities, churches and those prisoned or wrongly condemed.
Below is an exert from a pretty decent source I found on St. Nicholas:
Children around the world know and love St. Nicholas—for he brings gifts and treats in December. He is known by different names—and even looks different from place to place. But, it is the same St. Nicholas who delights with small surprises and good things to eat. Nicholas gave in secret, alert to others' needs, and expecting nothing for himself in return. It is this selfless generosity which seeks only the good of the other that made Nicholas' gifts the gifts of a saint.
In the West the saint's image changed between the eleventh and twelfth centuries from a rather severe figure to the compassionate children's friend. There his main virtue came to be seen as generosity to children—rooted in the stories of rescuing the desperate maidens with gold for their dowries and of saving three children or schoolboys from an evil fate. Nuns in France began leaving treats on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5th, for the small children of poor families. St. Nicholas' gifts were usually good things to eat: apples, oranges, nuts, and eventually cookies and sweets. The custom quickly spread across Europe and St. Nicholas Feast Day, December 6th, was celebrated by both rich and poor. St. Nicholas' example still inspires acts of charity and generosity.
click here for more information and readings on St. Nicholas and may you all have a blessed feast. http://www.stnicholascenter.org
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