SAINT NICHOLAS

Saint Nicholas was a bishop in Myra, Asia Minor, somewhere around 325 A.D.

Many legends have arisen around this man.  He is especially remembered as a person who knew, above all else, how to give.  He apparently was a gift-giver who expected nothing in return! 

There is a story of three sacks of gold which were thrown during the night into the window of a poor man.  His daughters lived without hope of suitors, and a dread that they would be forced into prostitution because they had no dowry.

Another story tells of Saint Nicholas begging grain from passing merchant ships to feed his starving people during a famine.  The bishop promised the sailors that at the final weighing in on their return home, not an ounce would be missing.

He was a special friend to children.  He baked bread with sugar and spices for  them.  These first gingerbread men were made in his own image including the mitered cap of a bishop.

He was eventually made the patron saint of Russia - where czars and nobles were named after him.  In Greece, hs is also a patron saint;  Nicholas is still one of the most popular names given to boys there!

But much of these traditions changed when Madison Avenue created an American transformation:

• The bishop's cape was changed to a snowsuit.
• The bishop's miter-hat became a fool's cap.
• The Spirit is replaced by being tipsy on spirits.
• He comes not from Heaven but from the North Pole.
• He's surrounded by elves rather than being accompanied by angels.
• He's become a symbol of greed rather than of generosity.

But some families still preserve the original meanings. 

A table is secretly set - a child's handwriting reads:  "This table was set by Saint Nicholas!"

Cookies are baked and left on the table with a note:  "These cookies were left by Saint Nicholas!"

Beds are made and a note is found:  "This bed was made by Saint Nicholas!"

A car is washed and cleaned - and a note remains:  "This car was cleaned by Saint Nicholas!"

And in the true spirit of scripture - "the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing" - kindnesses are exchanged without credit being assigned!  And the true meaning of Christmas - a gift given without expectation of a return - is restored! 

We need a new wave of Christmas gift tags that have a TO but no FROM.