If there’s one thing I have learned
about being a parent, it’s that
nothing is easy—not even things
that are supposed to be. I was
reminded of that last December when
my nine-year-old daughter, Maddie,
suddenly took an interest in the logistics
of celebrating St. Nick.
“Mom, can I ask you a question?”
she said, as we were hanging our stockings
“by the chimney with care.”
“Sure,” I said.
“We learned in school that you have
to be dead to be a saint. So if he’s dead,
how does St. Nick deliver gifts to us? Is
it his ghost?”
Wow, theology by a third-grader. Her
five-year-old brother, Alex, screamed. I
panicked and tried to think of a logical,
pastoral and quick answer. How do I
explain my way out of this one without
blowing the charade for the youngest two? I wondered. Not to mention I wasn’t
totally sure whether or not Maddie
comprehended the implications of her
question.
So I quickly gathered my composure
and did what any self-respecting parent
does in moments like this—I distracted
them and then I got to work researching
this saint who inspired, but all too
often plays runner-up to Santa Claus.
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 Santa's Predecessor
St. Nicholas lived in Myra, a city in the
province of Asia Minor (modern-day
Turkey) during the fourth century. His
parents died when he was a teenager
and left him with quite a bit of money. Nicholas then went to live with his
uncle, who was a priest.
At some point, Nicholas became
aware of a man who had three daughters,
but no money to pay their dowries
so they could be married. On three separate
occasions, Nicholas secretly tossed
a bag of gold into the girls’ stockings
hanging by the fire, thus providing
them their dowries. On the third night,
the father caught Nicholas delivering
the gold. Nicholas asked the father not
to tell anyone about what he had done.
Eventually, Nicholas became the
bishop of Myra. He continued performing
generous acts, and had a special
affinity for children, sailors and
those who were falsely accused.
What about those traditions always
associated with St. Nick, such as
oranges and candy canes? Well, the
oranges are an adaptation of the bag of
gold that Nicholas threw into the
young women’s stockings. And, according
to many stories, candy canes are
supposed to represent crosiers, or
bishop’s staffs, as bishops are the shepherds
for God’s people.
Over time, as word of St. Nicholas’s
charity and giving spread, the concept
of secretly giving gifts to others grew
and took on a life of its own. As people
traveled to new lands, they took the
concept of the saintly gift-giver with
them. Over time, St. Nicholas transformed
into our modern-day Santa
Claus. (For more information on the
life of St. Nicholas, read “The Real St.
Nicholas” from St. Anthony Messenger.)
With all the information I had collected,
I sat the kids down and regaled
them with the tales of St. Nicholas. We
talked about ways to live out and honor
his example.
Later that evening, as I tucked them
into bed and made my way downstairs
to fill up their stockings, I said a small
prayer of thanks to St. Nicholas for his
giving spirit and loving example. And
then I added a small prayer of thanks
that my kids seemed to have forgotten
about the ghosts of long-passed
saints entering our home to deliver
gifts.
Here are a few ideas to help your family
celebrate this generous saint’s feast on
the evening before December 6:
Extend the celebration. St. Nicholas
wanted his gift-giving to be done in
secret—and not to last just one night.
Make an effort to surprise members of
your family with special gifts or
thoughtful acts throughout the holiday
season—just to brighten their day.
Visit www.stnicholascenter.org. This
Web site offers lots of information
about St. Nicholas, as well as projects
and activities for families, churches and
schools.
Show St. Nick some love. Make as
big a deal about St. Nick as you do Santa
Claus. Talk about the differences and
similarities between the two.
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