As we make our way through December, there are many jewels on the path to Christmas. One of the early ones is December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas. Like many of the best saints, Nicholas’ lore has far transcended his reality in amazing ways. He is believed to have been fourth century Bishop in what is now Turkey. He is believed to have participated in the Council of Nicea, and as a staunch opponent of the Arian Heresy, he was said to instrumental in the Council’s affirming the full deity of Christ. Beyond this there are nothing but stories, many suggesting great generosity and goodness to children which is the source of his “transformation” into the central figure of much of western Christmas (ironic as he was from the east). Children today leave shoes out for St. Nicholas to leave candy canes for good little boys and girls.
I was reading about Nicholas today and I landed on the list of persons and things of which he is patron saint. He has a large list, as many things have been associated with his story, among them Bakers, Brides, Children, Child Prostitutes, Greece, Grooms, Pawnbrokers, Travelers, etc.
Child prostitutes???
Well, that’s not something I expected. Was St. Nick some kind of Pre-Nicean pimp? Nick-daddy? Of course the answer is far more benign and less unsettling. Apparently there was a father with three daughters who did not have the money for their dowries and therefore was planning on selling them into slavery, which for girls would often include prostitution (talk about the ultimate “Why aren’t you married yet?” Christmas dinner discussion). In order to save the unfortunate women, Nicholas was said to have thrown three bags of gold down the chimney of the house to provide dowry and save the girls from their fate. Thus themes of gifts (coming down the chimney), love of children, and protection from prostitution are associated with this early saint.
The season is full of riches, some of them coming down chimneys, some of them just below the surface.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/StNicholasFyodorZubov.jpg
