Icon of St. Nicholas

My young friend Sophia, who was over tonight for dinner with her Dad, reminded me that tomorrow was St. Nicholas Day. St. Nicholas was 4th-century saint and Bishop of Myra, part of modern-day Turkey. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus. Many countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day but in the USA it is only in cities with a strong German tradition, like Milwaukee.

As a child on the eve of St. Nicholas Day we hung our special stockings on the fireplace and went to sleep that St. Nicholas would come by and fill them with candy and toys. He always did. When our two sons were young I had to teach my wife about St. Nicholas day since in the small town outside of Boston area that she grew up there was no St. Nicholas Day.

Just as St. Nicholas was the model for Santa Clause St. Nicholas Day was the model for Christmas. In fact in such countries, like the Netherlands, St. Nicholas Day is the primary day of giving gifts.

These days when Christmas dominates the gift purchase market from October thru December St. Nicholas is almost forgotten. Christmas becomes the day of gift giving, dominating the original idea of Christmas, celebration of the birth of Jesus. So I was glad when my young friend reminded me that tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day.

Tonight when I asked my wife about hanging our socks on the fireplace she responded that our Christmas decorations were still in storage boxes in our basement. I have some regular stockings lying around the floor of the living room. They are much smaller than the St. Nicholas stockings but maybe I will put one on the fireplace just in case St. Nicholas comes tonight.

Today while running some errands I happened to stop at the Goodwill store and purchased myself, nice pants, shirt and suit jacket. Maybe I already received my St. Nicholas gift. But for the sake of memories I will hang the stocking waiting for good old St. Nick.

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