To be more precise, Nikolas of Smyrna died 1,678 years ago on December 6th.
It is not surprising that The Feast of St Nikolas and Christmas were rolled together in the mid to late 19th century. The modern science of marketing was in it’s infancy and there was money to be made. How can it be sacred if nobody is getting rich off it? The dour, ascetic old boy above had to imbibe a lot of eggnog to wash down all those cookies before he could become the demigod of mass consumption.
St. Nick wasn’t always all holly-jolly, but he was known to be very generous and kind.
One of the earliest depictions of St Nikolas of Smyrna is shown above, an Icon from the Orthodox tradition of the Christian church. He is an officially canonized Saint in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. He is known as a worker of miracles with an emphasis on justice for the poor and downtrodden. He is entombed in Bari, Italy, in the Basilica di San Nicola. Some other bone fragments of his that have a surprisingly good provenance rest in Venice.
This is best known chapter of his legend.
Nikolas was a man of great means, who had left a life of comfort to serve the church. While he was serving as a local pastor, he became acquainted with a widow who had three daughters.
Being desperately poor, the widow couldn’t afford dowries for her girls, thus she could not arrange marriages for them. The legend holds that young women’s only other option was a life of prostitution. The widow never ceased praying that God would provide a way for the three maidens to marry and escape her own sad fate.
Looking at this situation through modern eyes, we see multiple levels of sexism and injustice. Yes, this was and for many people is still a bad thing. We can do better. Nevertheless in that day, it was accepted that a family in this situation was condemned to a life of poverty, barely eking out a living with day labor or working the streets and enduring all the danger and degradation that entailed.
After a day of working in the fields, the three young women would leave their dirty shoes outside the door of their hovel. Nikolas, knowing of their great need, went to their house under cover of darkness and left a small sack of gold coins in each of the young women’s shoes. It was enough money to provide a dowry for each of them.
When the girls arose and readied themselves for a day of toil, they discovered the sacks of money in their shoes. Overjoyed, they ran to show their mother that her prayers had been answered.
Nikolas had the joy of officiating at their weddings.
It is not clear where Nikolas got enough money for three dowries. Most versions of his legend state that he left a life of wealth and ease to take holy orders. Did he stash a little cash beforehand? Did it come from his flock’s collection plate? Did he act as a middleman for some anonymous donor? This question is not clearly answered because the lesson is about what to do with wealth, not how to get it. It is the polar opposite of the “prosperity gospel”.
In my little town in Red America, in between the “F*ck Biden” flags there are numerous yard signs that urge us all to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” As yet, nobody in town has invited a homeless couple to spend the weekend in their garage. If there on any changes on that front, I will update this piece.
Nikolas’ Feast Day is celebrated by Roman Catholics on December 6th. This is often celebrated with children rising to find stockings filled with small trinkets and treats. Among these treats are often little wafers of chocolate wrapped in foil to resemble coins.
Kids, footwear, coins; you see how this all fits together.
In western Europe and some areas of the US, Saint Nicholas (Sinter Klaas/ Sankt Klaus/ Father Christmas) is portrayed as a Catholic Bishop. He us usually accompanied by a helper who is carrying a bag of coal and a bundle of sticks. This small man is stained all over with the coal ash. At St. Nick’s order, “Black Peter” will fill a naughty child’s stocking or shoes with coal, to remind him of the fires of hell, or a switch, with which his parents should whup him.
I use the male pronoun here because my elder brother once found a charcoal briquet in his stocking. Was this deplorable? Perhaps. Was anyone particularly sorry for him? No. Did it work? Oh hell yes. Parents must understand that no child was beaten in this situation. This was a step on my mother’s quest to break a cycle of violence that my dad was caught up in. She succeeded in time, much to my own benefit.
The appearance of such dire tokens serve as a warning to the child to shape up before Saint Nicholas returns in 19 days. The unreformed child can expect no presents on Christmas morning. Alternative legends have Black Peter’s role filled by Krampus, a demon from hell who kidnaps the child, thank you very much. To quote Krampus, “Yeah, yeah, sucks to be you, get in the sack.” Many of today’s “fairy tales” are toned down horror stories about children who should have behaved better or innocent children who were unlucky enough to fall into the hands of a wicked stepmother. I guess my central European ancestors took in their violence with their mother’s milk.
Is it really a bedtime story if it keeps you up all night?
Even if you don’t believe in Santa Claus, You can keep Nikolas of Smyrna in Christmas.
One of my own favorite charities is the National Kidney Foundation. Click here if you want to drop some coin in their clogs.
If you’ve read any of my most recent diaries, you’ll see why I’m so partial to this particular charity.
In keeping with the legend of St Nick, you might give something to a local Domestic violence shelter. Many local shelters have a “wish list”. Click here to fulfill a wish for somebody near you who needs it bad.
Happy Holidays Kossacks!