Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated by Catholic and Orthodox Christians on December 6. The proper name for Saint Nicholas is Nicholas of Myra. Nicholas of Myra lived in what today is known as Turkey. Saint Nicholas is also referred to as Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker because of all of the miracles that he is said to have performed.
Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity. He loved to put pennies in the shoes of those who left them out for him to find. Saint Nicholas is today usually referred to as Santa Claus.
Nicholas was never canonized by the Catholic Church. His reputation evolved. Saint Nicholas is also referred to as Saint Nicholas of Bari because in 1087 the relics associated with him were secretly transferred to Bari.
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Sailors especially revere Saint Nicholas. He’s known as the patron saint of sailors, and it is believed that Saint Nicholas can prevent sailors from drowning and being shipwrecked.
Legend has it that as a young man, Saint Nicholas went to study in Alexandria. On the voyage, he saved a sailor who had fallen from the ship’s rigging during a storm from drowning. A more colorful legend says that after Nicholas had saved the sailor from drowning, he (Nicholas) took the sailor to church with him. While Nicholas was praying, the sailor went around the church describing in great detail how Nicholas had saved him. Since the church elders were waiting for a “sign” to show them who their next bishop would be, they had no choice but to appoint Nicholas.
Still another legend says that an evil butcher lured three young boys away from their families, killed them, and preserved their remains in barrels to be sold as ham to starving villagers. Nicholas saw through the scheme and resurrected the three boys by praying.
