St Nicholas still most popular saint --

in Sackville, NB

By KATHERINE TAPLEY-MILTON

According to legend, Saint Nicholas was born to wealthy parents who raised him as a Christian.  Allegedly they died in an epidemic and left Nicholas a sizable inheritance. Nicholas is said to have taken Jesus’ command to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor” very seriously and gave unstintingly to those in need.

One of the stories told about Saint Nicholas concerns three daughters without dowries who were in danger of being sold as slaves or prostitutes because of their poverty. Nicholas is credited with anonymously giving them each a bag of gold so that they could get married.  Some reports claim that the gold was tossed in their window and landed in stockings set before the fire to dry.  This started the custom of youngsters hanging up their stockings in the hopes that Saint Nicholas would deposit gifts in them. December 6th is celebrated in churches worldwide as Saint Nicholas Day, since that is believed to be the day that the saintly bishop died.

Rev. Kevin Stockall, rector at Saint Paul’s in Sackville, New Brunswick, has been holding Saint Nicholas Day services with the children on or near December 6th for the past decade. “The nice thing about Saint Nicholas, of course, is that he teaches us that life is more complete, more satisfactory, and more fulfilling if we learn the tradition of giving and not just receiving which seems to be a part of our secular Santa Claus tradition.  We celebrate Saint Nicholas with a visit for the same reason that we commemorate the saints throughout the Church Year in other ways. The saints have this amazing gift for pointing us to Christ.”

The children at Saint Paul’s seem very enthusiastic about the church service in which Saint Nicholas makes his yearly visit during the children’s time. Kathleen Craig, who is in grade nine, commented, “We get to see him coming into church and giving the little kids candy and oranges or chocolate. He comes in with the big robe, staff and hat and comes up and talks to kids and explains why Saint Nicholas [Day] exists.”  The message Kathleen gets from Saint Nicholas is that we should help others.  She says, “You may be doing something small like saying ‘hello’ or lending them your pencil sharpener, or it could be something huge like giving some money for a loan to go to university.  Help other people, be nice -- it might cost you a little to help someone, but in the end you will get repaid for it.”

Nine-year-old Christopher Ford enjoys Saint Nicholas Day as well.  “I like getting candy.”  When asked what the purpose of the celebration is Christopher said, “To like God and Saint Nicholas.”

Katherine Ollerhead, who is also in grade four, explains, “I like going to church and I like when the man dresses up as Saint Nicholas.”  When asked how Saint Nicholas is different from Santa Claus Katherine said, “I think that Saint Nicholas is different from Santa Claus because he is not just there to give you more treats and candy.  I think he is there to teach about sharing with others,

being polite, and telling us to pray to God and say ‘thank you’ for all the things.”

Christmas in North America has turned into such a materialistic grab fest--in which advertisers are urging children to demand gifts instead of giving them--that the church’s celebration of Saint Nicholas is refreshing.  The message the children seem to take away from Saint Nicholas Day is that helping others and giving is an important spiritual virtue.  Whereas Santa Claus seems to be all

about materialism and getting stuff, Saint Nicholas is all about generosity to others 365 days of the year.