The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-12-18

M called st. Nicholas! For
wv the most excellent reason
that Nicholas Is the real
name Of the saint. Until comparative
ly recent years there was no Santa
Claus at Christmas time. When the
old saint comes down the chimney
Dec. "A, Christmas eve, and deposits
gifts for the children in the suspended
stockings he is just nineteen days be-
hind time, for his true and proper
time is Dec. 8, that being the eve Of
st. Nicholas day. Just how Nicholas
got to be the Christmas eve saint is
not altogether clear. but those icon
oclasts who dig into ancient matters
are probing this secret They have
discovered, or claim to have discov-
cred. that the Christmas eve Santa
Claus really originated In America. be-
ing transported to England from New
York.
In the saints calendar Dec. 9 is St
Nicholas day. Nicholas was bishop Of
Myra, In Lycia. He is believed to
have lived under the Emperors Dio-
cletian and Constantine and is the pa
iron saint OF poor maidens. sailors.
travellers, merchants and children.
Rich maidens, of course, are also quite
willing to acknowledge him when be
comes along with diamond dog col
lars, necklaces and tiaras.
Before the great religious reformation
the custom of giving presents on st.
Nicholas eve was general throughout
Christian Europe. When the worship
of the saints was abolished the prac-
tice died out in England, where for
about three centuries st. Nicholas fail
ed TO visit households on the evening
Of Dec. 3 TO leave presents for good
children. By the way. II should be
pointed out that Nicholas was noted
even in infancy as particularly good
and pious child. Therefore his visits
are not made to bad children-Only tc
those whose parents can vouch fol
their good behavior during the previous
year.
In Austria. Holland and Poland St
Nicholas eve is still observed. Good
children get presents. secretly left ir
their shoes placed upon the hearth
stone for the purpose or in their stock
ings hung from the mantel. When
New York was settled by IIollander,
the devout Dutchmcn brought over &c
America their religious customs. no,
forgetting that Of 81. Nicholas eve. II
old New Amsterdam the saint made
his visits the night of Dec. .. st. Mich
olas day being celebrated by the set
tiers rs a holiday. In time the Dutcl
were suppIanted by the English. Ne"
Amsterdam became New York, and thu
old st. Nicholas eve gift giving custom
was reintroduced into England from
New York. Rut in ENGLAND the Gus
tom Of gittmaking on Christmas eve
had grown up. There was. however
no Santa Claus ceremony Gifts were
made outright and without secrecy.
When St Nicholas sailed hack Il
England there was Consideration
among fond paras and mammas II
the tight little isle.
what. Shall we have two days q
gift giving and less than three weeks
apart" they cried.
Thrifty English parents. 1t is sup
posed, determined that one day o.
giving was enough, and so they sim
ply transferred 81. Nicholas to Christ
mas eve.
81. Vitus' Dance.
sc. vitus vas the saint who was sur
posed TO have special power over o.
nervous and hysterical Affections
hence when the celebrated ''dancInt
mania" began In Germany. the Low
Countries and elsewhere over Europ
the strange phenomenon was calle
"St. vltus' dancc"-that IL. Il wa
something coming under the specia
care Of that saints power.
Young Lady-The last bread got G
you was 50 hard / couldn't eat II. Bal
er dndIgnantiy,-Young lady. wan
you to know that made bread bcfor
you we're born. Young Lady-oh.
don't doubt II. think that was SON
of Il vptt unInodr1 ON tup-Chtrag