Some one sent this a couple of years ago on this system and I thought it was
neat.
Murray Kobe - Searching Kobe, Kobi, Kehn, Kohn, Berlet, Smyth, French,
Everyone thinks he was from Germany ( I did too), but according to these
encyclopedia references, I found out otherwise. I like the second version.
Who was Saint Nicholas?
Nicholas was the bishop of the Christian Church in the Asia Minor city of
Myra (now Demre, Turkey) in the fourth century AD. He is beloved throughout
the Christian East for his kindness and help, both during his life and
afterward. He is called "Wonderworker" for the miracles which he performed
and which he still performs, by God's grace. Many accounts of Saint Nicholas
are available, both elsewhere on the World-Wide Web and at this site. In
the Protestant West, which suppressed the invocation of saints, Saint
Nicholas became popularly known as Santa Claus.
In accordance with early Christian tradition, saints are remembered in the
Orthodox Church on the date of their passing from this life into the next.
Saint Nicholas is thus remembered on December 6. Orthodox Christianity
maintains that even though people are dead from this life, that they are
alive in the spiritual realm, and continue to pray for us. Our "prayers to
the saints" are actually requests that they pray for us, much as we ask
believers who are still alive in the flesh to pray for us.
The remains of St. Nicholas now repose principally in Bari, Italy,
having been transported there in 1084 A.D. after Myra fell to Islamic
invaders. A fragrant liquid (myrrh) still exudes from the relics.
Miracles are performed even today through the intercessions of St.
Nicholas. Turkey also claims to possess bones of Saint Nicholas.
Santa Claus
Saint Nicholas, revered as a saint, a bishop of a major city, and a real
person by Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians, entered into
legend among the Protestants of Europe. Though reverence for the saints has
deemphasized, neglected, despised, and even forbidden within Protestantism,
the memory of Saint Nicholas could not be repressed. He emerged in the
popular culture as Santa Claus, Saint Nick, Sinter Klaus, and other names.
Always, he is a kindly man who gives gifts to others -- especially
children -- during the Christmas season. Gradually, his gifts came to be
given on Christmas eve rather than on the proper day for the celebration of
Saint Nicholas, December 6.
Second version....
Saint Nicholas
Nicholas, Saint (lived 4th century), Christian prelate, patron saint of
Russia, traditionally associated with Christmas celebrations. The
accounts of his life are confused and historically unconfirmed.
According to tradition he was a native of Patara, formerly a city in the
ancient district of Lycia, Asia Minor (now Turkey). Nicholas entered the
nearby monastery of Sion and subsequently became archbishop of the
metropolitan church in Myra, Lycia. He is said to have been imprisoned
during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian and to have attended the first
Council of Nicaea, but this is unlikely. At the end of the 11th century some
Italian merchants transported his remains from Myra to Bari, Italy, where
his tomb is now a shrine.
Nicholas is the patron saint of children, scholars, virgins, sailors,
and merchants, and in the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century) he was
regarded by thieves as their patron saint as well. Legend tells of his
surreptitious gifts to the three daughters of a poor man, who, unable to
give them dowries, was about to abandon them to prostitution.
From this tale has grown the custom of secret gifts on the Eve of Saint
Nicholas. Because of the close proximity of dates, Christmas and Saint
Nicholas's Day are now celebrated simultaneously in many countries.
Santa Claus, the designation for the jolly, bearded figure of folklore
who is credited with bringing gifts to children on Christmas Eve, is an
American derivation of the Dutch Sinter Klaas. His feast day is December 6.