Evening star., 1928-12-23
SaC
and Christmas the eWHB Of N1 and First AnefG

He is listed in martyrologies of the
ninth century, and churches began to
be dedicated to him in the eleventh
century. His cult became tremendously
popular after the removal of his body
to Bari, in Apulia, on the 9th of May.
1887. Numberless pilgrimageS were
made to his shrines. Nearly 400 Eng
lish churches bear his name, and he
is the patron of Russia, the special pro-
tector of children, of scholars, mer-
chants and sailors-certainly catholic
choice of proteges
Two of the legends about him are
worth remembering. In many of his
pictures, he is shown with three boys
beside him in tub. It seems, accord
ing to this legend, that he happened
to visit an inn where three rich youths,
who had taken lodging, had been mur-
dered for their money by the tnnkeeper.
Their bodies had been cut up and hid
den in the sailing tub. Miraculously.
the good saint Smelled out the foul
deed and, through his special powers,
raised them up complete and lively
again. The fate of the innkeeper is
shrouded in the mistS of time, but per-
haps he repented and was forgiven.
The other most famous legend,
which has also been illustrated by the
painters, had to do with his kindness
to three dowerleSS maidens. Their
father, poverty stricken and unable, in
consequence, to make proper marriages
for them, was about to turn them adrift
in highly improper world, when
st. Nicholas came knocking at the
door with donation of more or less
celestial gold-and the situation was
saved And so, from this redeeming
of on nf
gifts on ST. Nicholas eve, or December
6. Most of Western Europe kept this
custom until the Protestants began in
Weighing against it, in the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. They insisted that
all good gifts came from the Christ
Child alone and not from any saint.
This and the growth of the Christmas
tree idea finally developed the day we
know. Belgian and Dutch children,
however, still receive their gifts on st.
Nicholas eve, and gradually, over many
years, ST. Nicholas has become "Sami-
klaus" to the Swiss little folk, Kris
kinder" and Santa Claus" to small
Americans. In few other places he
is known as Father Christmas; in
some the Christ Child himself is said
to be the visitor, and in France he is
known as ''le Pere Noel"
X X u X
HCOME of his customs are quaint and
~ pretty. To the Belgian and Dutch
children he comes in his bishops robes,
first to see if they have been good, then
later to drop gifts down the chimney
or onto plates or into baskets or SabotS
in convenient corners. When the chill
dren find them they say, THANK you,
st. Nicholas" very politely. And they
do not forget to leave fodder for the
gray horse or white ass, one of which
is his invariable steed. When they have
been good the fodder disappears and
the gifts are to be found. But when
they have been bad, alas and alack,- the
fodder is untouched and only a switch
| is to be seen.
"In Holland a white sheet is laid on
the floor just before the appointed time
| for the saints appearance. Round this
sheet the boys and girls range them
selves, with disturbed eyes on the clock.
A few minutes before time they begin
to sing Justify In his honor. They are
rewarded with shower of candies
onto the sheet, and while they are
scrambling the saint himself enters,
followed by a negroid servant carrying
an open bag and bearing rod. But
| this Is seldom used. st. Nicholas dis
tributes the presents which he has
brought in his arms, and Joy reigns as
he takes his departure.
"It seems too bad not to tell you the
rest of the story, particularly about
Christmas in merrie England"
"Oh, but you must" cried grand
mother. I'VE won't let you stop now.
And. besides. you haven't said any,
thing yet about the carols"
"It will, have to be very short, then" /"
Father stretched and settled himself
more comfortably in his chair. 1.-THE
subject is fascinating, but it fills many
books. Probably no other country, ex-
cept possibly Southern France, made as
much of Christmas as England did.