Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

While some saints are obscure enough that we must pause to recall who they were and what they did, most of us have an instant image in mind when we hear the name Saint Nicholas. That image may come from the historic Bishop of Myra, but more likely it’s been blended with the jolly elf of Clement C. Moore’s 1823 poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas—better known as ’Twas the Night Before Christmas—from which many modern ideas of Santa Claus arise. This mixture can complicate our relationship with Saint Nicholas, but if we focus on how he loved God and neighbor, even the commercial, ubiquitous Santa can be filled with meaning, adding depth to what might otherwise feel like a frivolous part of the season.

Saint Nicholas lived in the fourth century (280–343 CE), at the end of the Roman Empire. He was born just before Diocletian’s reign and the last great persecution of Christians, but most of his adult life unfolded under Constantine and his sons, and state-supported Christianity. Stories about Nicholas abound—many historically uncertain—but they share a common theme: he lived out the gospel by giving to those in need and rescuing those in trouble.

The gifts Nicholas gave were never frivolous or even ‘fun’ — they met real and urgent needs. As a priest and later bishop, he saw the hardship of people around him. His most famous act was providing dowries for a family of young women by dropping coins or balls of gold down their chimney, where they landed in stockings hung to dry. He also aided the people of Myra during a famine by miraculously multiplying grain from a shipment meant for the Emperor. Celebrating Saint Nicholas on December 6th invites us to pause at the start of Advent and remember that the best gifts are simple, needed, and grounded in care—not the hurried consumerism that so often defines this season.

Just as Saint Nicholas’ gifts met people’s needs, he also sought to serve others in both practical and miraculous ways. Sailors caught in a violent storm prayed for help and were rescued by a figure resembling the Saint walking on the water. When they later visited Nicholas on shore, he told them they may indeed have seen him—but it was God they should thank, for God had saved their ship and their lives. Another tale that reads more like Brothers Grimm (much to my teenage sons’ delight) than a sweet bedtime story, tells of Saint Nicholas resurrecting three boys who had been pickled by a butcher hoping to sell them as pork.

And, in a third story, Saint Nicholas helps a barren couple conceive a son. In gratitude, the father vows to bring a cup to the church of Saint Nicholas, and when the cup is finally crafted, it is so exquisite the father decides to keep it for himself and offer a lesser cup in its place. As the father and his young son sail toward the church with the inferior cup, the boy leans over the side of the boat and lets the cup touch the water. Instantly, he tumbles in and drowns. Stricken with grief, Saint Nicholas appears, restores the boy to life, and reunites him with his repentant parent.

Perhaps one of the most important clarifications to make about the gift giving and help of Saint Nicholas is that it does not come to those who are ‘nice’ but often to those who have been ‘naughty.’ Legend recalls that the father of the three girls needing dowries planned on selling them into prostitution. And yet, Nicholas showers their home with money. The father who loses his young son to drowning does so in the midst of his own sin, and Nicholas resurrects him. This challenges not only our modern mythology around Santa (that his gifts are based on a person’s merits) but also the true meaning of Christmas. Christ came for us while we were yet sinners, and then, not despite our sin, but because of it.  

As we wait this Advent for the past incarnation and the future coming kingdom, we can, like Saint Nicholas, engage in the present time with acts of generosity and faithful worship. Our household always celebrates the Feast of Saint Nicholas, but the practices have changed from year to year. What hasn’t changed is a desire to live like this saint who loved God and others so well as he gave generously, cared for those in need, and gave to all who needed it.

Here are some practical ways to celebrate Saint Nicholas. 

• Host a Saint Nick Dinner and consider inviting a family who you’ve never hosted before.
  • You could make Turkish food.  We enjoy Turkish Pide, which are shaped like boats. An appropriate shape to honor the patron saint of sailors.
• Stuff a small sack or sock with some of the following:
  • Orange
  • Gingerbread
  • Gold Coin
  • Small wooden toy (boats are ideal) or other trinket
  • A candy cane
• Have children leave their shoes out to be filled by the Saint. Where we live, this is a widespread practice on December 6th. The items listed above are good options for filling shoes. Pomegranates and mangos are also fun and healthier options.
• Hunt for the gold coins Saint Nicholas dropped down the chimney. This is simple, fun, and inexpensive. We are doing this at our church this year where we Saint Nicholas will visit and share his story at our monthly potluck.
• Give gifts. Our family donates items that our parish collects for those in need (typically we collect items for local shelters through Advent). Donating cans to a food pantry or secretly gifting a food gift card to a family you know could use a little extra is a good option if your parish isn’t involved in gathering things for a local ministry.
• Share a Saint Nicholas inspired story.  Here are some of our family’s favorites:
  • Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins by Jim Forest and Illustrated by Vladislav Andrejev  (video of the story being read)
  • The Legend of Saint Nicholas by Anselm Grun and Giuliano Ferri
  • Saint Nicholas by Ann Tompert and Illustrated by Michael Garland
  • The Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale by Aaron Shepard and Wendy Edelson (audio recording with images from the book)
  • Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien
  • Rusty Chains and Candy Canes: A Myths and Legends podcast (Not for young children or the faint of heart; a favorite of my teenagers.)