Historians generally write that much of what is said about Nicholas is legend. At Nicholas’s time (late 3rd - early 4th century) there was no investigation and no authentication of claimed miracles before canonization took place. Attributing miracles and wonders to a person was a way of expressing people’s conviction about the holiness of the person, and enough to qualify him or her for sainthood.
There are many stories of miracles attributed to the intercession of St. Nicholas. One of the most popular tells of his generosity to a prominent citizen of Patara, near Myra, Turkey. The man had lost all his money and as such could not provide a dowry for his three daughters. Without a dowry, women of that time could not marry, and instead might be sold into slavery. On three separate occasions, Nicholas tossed a bag of gold coins into an open window in the man’s house. The coins landed in shoes left by the fire to dry. These unexpected gifts allowed the man to provide dowries for his daughters.
This legend led to the modern-day custom of hanging stockings by the fire at Christmas. In our Christmas customs, the gifts of gold coins are memorialized by hanging oranges or gold balls as decorations, and Nicholas’s generous gesture was remembered by gift-giving.
In the early 1800s, the character of St. Nicholas began to develop into a more secular symbol of Christmas, especially evidenced in 1823 by the publication of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” a poem attributed to Clement Moore. Moore’s depiction of the jolly saint is quite a departure from the image of a fourth-century Turkish bishop. Whatever the historical basis of Nicholas of Myra, he has proved to be an enduring figure and symbol of the Christmas season. The elements of wisdom, generosity and kindness found in his story provide an excellent model for us during this time of year. Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, jolly man or gentle giver, he models the gifts we share in his name.
Peace
No comments:
Post a Comment