With the chill in the air, twinkling lights popping up all around us and stores reminding us that they have amazing sales going on now we know that the Christmas holiday season is upon us. We have seen people celebrate in many ways. Some are very religious and others are very secular. How we celebrate, and if we celebrate, often comes from the upbringing we had as children. Our family looks forward to the Christmas season with great joy and anticipation. We have many ways in which we celebrate this sacred season. We go to Mass during Advent. We light the candles of our Advent wreath. We set up our Christmas tree and decorate our house. We also anticipate a visit from St. Nicholas!
Who was St. Nicholas and why do we hope he visits us? Nicholas grew up in a very wealthy family. He was raised a devout Christian. When his parents died while he was still young he followed Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give to the poor”. He then began living his life for those less fortunate than he. He helped those who were poor, those who were sick and those who were suffering. Soon he was made the Bishop of Myra. People looked up to him because of his great generosity, his love of Christ and his devotion to his faith and to helping those in need.
Life was not always easy for Nicholas. The kind Bishop was persecuted for his faith under the Emporer Diocletian. He was exiled and and put in jail! Those who were followers of Christ were persecuted for their faith. They suffered greatly while in jail. When Constantine came to be the new ruler in 306 AD he decided things needed to be different. In 313 AD he issued the Edict of Milan proclaiming religious tolerance in the Roman Empire. Nicholas could again practice his faith without fear of persecution! He again was able to minister to the poor, the sick and the suffering. When Nicholas died on December 6, 343 AD many mourned his passing. He was an amazing man who touched many, many lives.
There are many stories attributed to St. Nicholas. Some are widely known and others are more obscure. Many can not be verified but are believed to be true anyway. One of the most widely known stories about St. Nicholas is about how he helped a very poor man who had three daughters. In those days for a woman to marry she had to have a dowry (money or goods that a woman brings to her new husband when they marry). The man was so poor that his daughters had no dowry and thus no real hope of ever marrying. They knew they would probably be sold into slavery. On three different occasions it is said that mysteriously bags of gold appeared for each daughter providing the necessary dowry for the girl to be wed. It was believed that the gold was thrown in through a window and landed in the stockings that hung above the fireplace to dry. People knew it was Bishop Nicholas who was responsible for this amazing gift. This story led to the belief that if you put your stockings or shoes out on the eve of St. Nicholas’ feast he would fill them with goodies!
This is a tradition that our family still does each year. On December 5th our children line up their shoes with great hopes that St. Nicholas will come through the night and fill their shoes with goodies. Often he leaves them fruit, a few candies, perhaps a toy and normally some change as well. We have a tradition of collecting the change and donating it to those more needy than ourselves. It is a continuance of St. Nicholas’ giving ways. We discuss the meaning behind St. Nicholas’ visit… that he is helping us prepare our hearts for a holy and blessed Christmas season. We encourage our children to look at St. Nicholas’ life and see how they can live in a similar manner… always thinking of others before themselves.
The celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas can provide many lessons for us. On a religious front it teaches us how to live our lives for others, how to be faithful Christians and how to prepare ourselves for the reason for the Christmas season… Christ’s birth. It can also teach us about history and lessons on how other cultures live and celebrate. It is a wonderful day to teach our children in a unique and fun way.
On this night have your children put out their shoes for St. Nicholas to fill them with goodies. Explain to them the importance of his life and his example of giving to others. Choose a family project to complete this year that will benefit another family or your community. Find a way to give to someone less fortunate without them knowing. Start a new tradition in your family this year!
When you live your life for others you become aware of just how full your own life becomes.
When Michelle isn’t setting out shoes for St. Nicholas to fill she can be found writing about her family at Pass The Flu Bug Please.
No related posts.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the great article!
My kids shoes are sitting out right now! :) Thanks for the fun article!