Church Holiday: Saint Nicholas’ Day…
Yes you read correctly!
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas or as known by; “Santa Claus” to many!
Saint Nicholas’ Day, observed on December 6 (in Western Christian countries) and 19 December (in Eastern Christian countries), is the feast day of Saint Nicholas.[2] It is celebrated as a Christian festival with particular regard to his reputation as a bringer of gifts, as well as through the attendance of Mass or worship services.[3][4] In Europe, especially in “Germany and Poland, boys would dress as bishops begging alms for the poor.”[5] In Ukraine, children wait for St. Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year. Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands, “Dutch children put out a clog filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas’ horse. On Saint Nicholas’ Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender.”[6] In the United States, one custom associated with Saint Nicholas Day is children leaving their shoes in the foyer on Saint Nicholas Eve in hope that Saint Nicholas will place some coins on the soles, for them to awake to.[2]
The American Santa Claus, as well as the British Father Christmas, derive in part from Saint Nicholas and in part from the Dutch Sinterklaas, the saint’s name in that language. However the gift giving associated with these descendant figures is associated with Christmas Day rather than Saint Nicholas Day itself.[4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas_Day
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I have to tell you something…
There must be a hundred people up the hill and it is snowing to beat the band. Father Pavel was in the bell tower ringing the bell and at -8 below, he had to have been freezing in the sleet, snow and hard wind. Vova is playing his church music full blast and it wafts all over the village. I have never seen anything like this, here we are in the middle of nowhere and there are people everywhere…
I thank God everyday for allowing me to have found Sveta and for her to allow me to live in the families village home. I am blessed and I know it. I just hope I am able to repay the debt I feel for all the blessings that I receive…
Learn something new everyday…
Church Holiday: Saint Nicholas’ Day…
Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia (WtR)