We're in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But I thought this would be nice time to recognize what it is we celebrate and to rediscover some of the true meaning of Christmas.
Monday, Dec. 6, marked the celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas who, by most Christian standards, represents the original Santa Claus. Who was St. Nick and why do children leave their shoes out on the eve of his feast day⢠A brief history lesson:
St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in Turkey during the fourth century. During his lifetime, he was well-known for his selfless acts and gifts of charity to the poor. One of most popular stories of his giving nature is: he knew of a family with three daughters who were unable to marry because their family could not produce a dowry (money for the wedding). Hearing this news, he dropped gold coins into the chimney, which fell into their socks that were hanging on the fireplace to dry.
The "legend" of St. Nicholas grew in Europe and was carried into America by pilgrims and early settlers. The first American artist rendition of St. Nicholas was drawn in 1810. This picture portrayed St. Nicholas in a gift-giving role surrounded by children's treats in stockings hanging at a fireplace. A poem given at a feast day dinner by Clement Clark Moore in 1823 was aptly titled "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which became better known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas." The now-familiar American image of Santa Claus was solidified during the 1930s.
It is simple to see how many of our Christmas traditions have been derived from the life of St. Nicholas. During the Christmas holiday season, a tremendous number of charities raise money outside of local businesses; food drives are held to help those who are less fortunate; clothing drives are held to ensure that everyone is kept warm during the cold season; and of course there is the exchange of gifts, giving to others so that they may realize how much we cherish their presence in their lives. All of these acts of kindness and charity are representative of the life that St. Nicholas led.
St. Nicholas is also believed to be a very special saint of children; he often felt compassion for little ones and yearned to help them. The magic that dances in the eyes of children in anticipation for Christmas Eve and the chance of perhaps catching a glimpse of Santa Claus himself is a reflection of the adoration children likely had for the real St. Nick. The special bond that children feel towards Santa Claus, an elderly man they have never met, is indicative of the bond St. Nicholas created throughout his lifetime.
The time is upon us when this season has become more than finding the perfect gift for the ones we love. The amount of money that we spend is measured by the government and economists in an effort to gauge how much the economy is increasing or decreasing in value. Beginning to get lost in all these figures are the children's shoes lining a hallway hoping to awake on Dec. 6th to treats and goodies; lost are the traveling carolers; and lost more and more each year is the realization of why we celebrate some of these holiday traditions.
Hopefully, reflecting on the historical relevance of Santa Claus and the meaning behind gift-giving, will help to recover some of the spiritual dimension of this festive time, in addition to commemorating the birth of Christ. I encourage people to embrace one or two of St. Nicholas' traditions. Claim the true meaning of Christmas - this focus helps to restore balance to the increasingly materialistic and stress-filled Christmas season.
Michelle Norris of West Deer is a community columnist for the Valley News Dispatch.
