St. Nicholas Day!

On Dec. 6, Catholics around the world celebrate a bishop in the early church who was known for generosity and love of children. Born in Lycia in Asia Minor around the late third or fourth century, Saint Nicholas of Myra is more than just the inspiration for the modern day Santa, but he is proof that Santa IS real!

One of the most famous stories of the generosity of Saint Nicholas says that he threw bags of gold through an open window in the house of a poor man to serve as gifts for the man’s daughters. The gold is said to have landed in the family’s shoes, which were drying near the fire. This is why children leave their shoes out by the door or hang their stockings by the fireplace in the hopes of receiving a gift on the eve of St. Nicholas Day (that's Friday night this year, kids!).

Saint Nicholas is known for giving secret gifts to children. Legend has it, the saint, who was known to wear red robes and have a long white beard, was culturally converted into the large man with a reindeer-drawn sled full of toys because in German, his name is “San Nikolaus” which sounds like “Santa Claus.” In the East, he is known as Saint Nicholas of Myra for the town in which he was bishop. But in the West he is called Saint Nicholas of Bari because, during the Muslim conquest of Turkey in 1087, his relics were taken to Bari by the Italians. 

Saint Nicholas is the patron of children and of sailors. His intercession is sought by the shipwrecked, by those in difficult economic circumstances, and for those affected by fires.