Often confused with Santa Claus, St. Nicholas is anything but a made-up character and not an invention meant for commercial use. St. Nicholas really existed! And his story is without a doubt considerably more fascinating than that of Santa Claus, so many partly mysterious legends surround the legendary bishop.
Not an invention, but real
Nicholas of Myra lived in the 4th century in Lycia in Asia Minor, in present-day Turkey. Even during his lifetime, and not just after his death, St. Nicholas was regarded among the people as a saint, helper in need, and patron. Together with the Christ Child and Santa Claus, he's one of the great gift-bringers of the Advent and Christmas season today. His feast day is December 6, which in Catholic Christianity is still celebrated as St. Nicholas Day.
Who was St. Nicholas of Myra?
Bishop Nicholas was known for his selflessness, his charity, and his selfless giving and sharing. Many stories therefore surround him. According to the legends, he distributed the fortune he inherited from his parents among the poor and needy, to bring joy and to remind people to do good. He is said to have had poorhouses built for the homeless, orphanages for children without parents, and a home for old sailors. That's why Nicholas of Myra is also considered the patron saint of seafarers. His good deeds were known far beyond his homeland - even after his death. When he died at an advanced age, people made pilgrimages from many distant lands to Myra to see the bishop one more time. His burial place is now in Bari, in southern Italy. There his remains rest in the specially built Basilica San Nicola, after they were brought there and saved in the 11th century during a raid on Myra.
Gifts on St. Nicholas Day
The nighttime filling of shoes, boots, stockings, or a plate of treats is still widespread and is based on a legend according to which three maidens in distress were given gifts by St. Nicholas at night. On the morning of December 6, children hope to find a boot stuffed full of chocolate, gingerbread, mandarins, nuts, and toys, while the actual Christmas gift-giving doesn't take place until December 24 or 25. Only in a few countries is St. Nicholas Day still the day of Christmas gift-giving today. In many tales, St. Nicholas gives gifts only to the well-behaved children, while he scolds the naughty ones and punishes them with a birch switch. Which children were good and which were bad this year, St. Nicholas reads from his golden book. In kindergartens and elementary schools, people dressed as St. Nicholas are often invited to give the children a talk and appeal to them to be good. St. Nicholas is often accompanied by his helper Knecht Ruprecht, who frequently takes on the punishing role and, as the legend goes, is said to be a 'tamed devil.' Buy St. Nicholas gifts now at the Lebkuchen-Schmidt shop!
What role does St. Nicholas play today?
St. Nicholas Day is one of the highlights for children during Advent.
For many centuries, children were given gifts on St. Nicholas Day, December 6 (also the 'Day of the Holy Innocents'). In the Middle Ages, the gift-giving didn't take place on Christmas Eve or the morning of Christmas Day as is common today. But because the Protestants rejected the Roman Catholic veneration of saints during the Reformation, the Christ Child was created in place of St. Nicholas. Increasingly, St. Nicholas faded into the background and was replaced by the Christ Child and Santa Claus. Nevertheless, many customs have remained, and even today St. Nicholas is regarded as a gift-bringer. On board many ships, too, an image of the holy bishop of Myra can still be found because of his patronage of sailors, since according to legend he watches over seafarers.
