"Santa Claus is coming to town."
Born during the third century, Saint Nicholas has become an iconic Christian tradition at the time of the Savior's Birth... December 25th of each year. Around the world, St. Nick has many names and is reputed to deliver goodies in several ways. In the United States of America, we find him evolving over time from the figure who delivered sweets to children's empty stockings (If good) or coal (if bad), into the jolly, rotund man who slides down a chimney to deliver gifts to all little ones.
Saint Nicholas is a saint from the fourth century. The only son of wealthy parents, he was religious from an early age. When his parents died, he was raised by his uncle who tonsured young Nicholas as a reader and later ordained him as a priest. Nicholas went on to become a Greek Bishop in Myra (Demre, a part of modern day Turkey) in Lycia. Myriad miracles are attributed to Saint Nicholas' intersessions to God, and during his life he was known as "Nickolas the Wonderworker." He is the Patron Saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, pawnbrokers, and students.
Legends of Saint Nicholas abound as he saw famine, violent conflicts and rampant prostitution in his native land.His calling found him guiding and teaching and preaching to the people involved in these atrocities. He gave generously from his spirit of faith and from his dowry. Reported to be only five feet in height and trim, our modern, burly Santa bears few true resemblances.
"Here comes Santa Claus... Peace on earth will come to all, if you just follow the light."
