12/06/2023
Happy Saint Nicholas Day! There are many versions of the story of St. Nicholas, and each one is filled with lessons on generosity and kindness. Here is one version you can read to your familes tonight.
Long ago, in the land we now call Turkey, there lived a young boy named Nicholas. Nicholas's parents died when he was still quite young, leaving him a great deal of money. But Nicholas was not interested in spending his fortune on fancy clothes or selfish pleasures.
Even as a boy, Nicholas loved to help others, especially those less fortunate than himself. In the town where he lived, Nicholas heard about a poor man who had three daughters. The father did not have enough money for the daughters to have proper dowries in order to marry. At night, Nicholas secretly threw bags of gold coins through an open window and into the house to provide dowries for the eldest daughters. When it came time for the third daughter to wed, the poor father stayed awake to thank their mysterious benefactor. That night, Nicholas threw the bag of coins down the chimney, where it landed in a stocking hung up to dry!
As an adult, Nicholas was chosen to become a bishop in the growing religion of Christianity. He was a kind and giving bishop, protecting ships from storms at sea and helping children and the poor whenever he could. After Nicholas died, his generous spirit lived on in the stories people told about him. He became known as a protector of children and a bringer of gifts - a saint in the Christian faith.
The spirit of Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas as some called him, spread across the world. His story evolved too, but many things stayed the same - like his secret gift-giving and his care for all children. Every December 6, we honor the real Saint Nicholas and the spirit of loving generosity his story inspires.
