San Nicolás de Mira

Saint Nicholas of Myra, also known as Nicholas of Bari, Nicholas of Lpnenskij, Nicholas of Lipno, Nicholas of Sarajskij, Nicholas the Miracle Worker, Klaus, Mikulas, Nikolai, Nicolaas, Nicolas, Niklaas, Niklas, Nikolaus, and Santa Claus, was a priest, abbot, and bishop of Myra in Lycia, which is now modern-day Turkey. He was born in the 3rd century and died around the year 346. Saint Nicholas is widely recognized for his generosity and his special protection of the innocent and wronged. Many stories and legends grew around him prior to his association with Santa Claus. One of the most well-known stories about Saint Nicholas involves his intervention to save three young girls from a life of prostitution. Upon hearing that a local man was planning to sell his daughters, Nicholas went by night to the house and threw three bags of gold through the window, providing a dowry for each girl and saving them from an evil life. These three bags of gold became the symbol of generosity given in times of trouble and are now associated with pawnbrokers, represented by three golden balls. Another remarkable story tells of how Saint Nicholas raised three young boys to life after they had been murdered and pickled in a barrel of brine to hide the crime. This miraculous act led to his patronage of children in general and barrel-makers. Saint Nicholas is also known for his ability to induce thieves to return their plunder. Although he is often associated with theft and robbery, it is important to note that he did not help thieves steal but rather encouraged them to repent and change their ways. In the past, thieves were even referred to as Saint Nicholas’ clerks or Knights of Saint Nicholas. During a voyage to the Holy Lands, a fierce storm threatened the ship Saint Nicholas was on. In response, he fervently prayed and miraculously calmed the storm, thereby protecting sailors and those who work on the sea. As a result, Saint Nicholas is recognized as the patron saint of sailors and dockworkers. Saint Nicholas is often depicted in various representations, including holding an anchor, calming a storm as a bishop, holding three bags of gold, holding three balls, and with three children. He is also represented by a purse, a ship, three bags of gold, three balls, three golden balls on a book, and a boy in a boat. Although his relics are believed to be located in Bari, Italy, where they were translated on May 22 (9 May on the Julian calendar), Saint Nicholas has been venerated and celebrated worldwide. He is regarded as the patron saint against famine, fire, imprisonment, robberies, robbers, storms at sea, sterility, thefts, altar servers, archers, boys, brides, captives, children, choir boys, happy marriages, lawsuits lost unjustly, lovers, maidens, penitent murderers, newlyweds, old maids, paupers, pilgrims, poor people, prisoners, scholars, schoolchildren, students, penitent thieves, spinsters, travelers, unmarried girls, apothecaries, bakers, bankers, barrel makers, boatmen, boot blacks, brewers, butchers, button makers, candle makers, chair makers, cloth shearers, coopers, dock workers, druggists, educators, farm workers, farmers, firefighters, fish mongers, fishermen, grain merchants, grocers, grooms, hoteliers, innkeepers, judges, lace merchants, lawyers, linen merchants, longshoremen, mariners, merchants, millers, notaries, parish clerks, pawnbrokers, perfumeries, perfumers, pharmacists, poets, ribbon weavers, sailors, ship owners, shoe shiners, soldiers, spice merchants, spinners, stone masons, tape weavers, teachers, toy makers, vintners, watermen, weavers, the Greek Catholic Church in America, the Greek Catholic Union, the Varangian Guard, and the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks. Several cities around the world are named after Saint Nicholas, including Antwerp, Enghien, Liège, Saint-Nicolas, and Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, Barranquilla in Colombia, Husinec in the Czech Republic, Liverpool, North-Moreton, Portsmouth, St Nicholas (Glamorganshire and Pembrokeshire), St Nicholas-at-Wade, and Winchester in England, Amiens, Civray, L’Hôpital, Lorraine, Mardyck, Munster, Paris, and Saint-Nicolas-de-Port in France, Anklam, Berlin, Greifswald, Greimerath, Großaitingen, Hamburg, Kalkar, Lubeck, Stendal, Tauberbischofsheim-Impfingen, Überlingen, Waal, and Zepfenhan in Germany, Corfu Island, Hagios Nikolaos Anapafsas Meteora Monastery, and Psara in Greece, Limerick in Ireland, Acquaviva Picena, Albisola Superiore, Alfano, Alice Castello, and many more in Italy, Kaunas City in Lithuania, Is-Siggiewi in Malta, Amsterdam, Cuxhaven, Hantum, Kampen, and St Nicolaasga in the Netherlands, Beit Jala in the Palestinian Territory, Aberdeen in Scotland, Liptovský Mikulás in Slovakia, Ljubljana and Miklavž na Dravskem polju in Slovenia, Acebedo, Alhama de Almería, Alicante, and many more in Spain, Stralsund in Sweden, and Fribourg in Switzerland. Saint Nicholas was canonized as a saint, but this happened before the formal canonization process was established. Therefore, he was canonized in a pre-congregation era. Saint Nicholas of Myra is regarded as a beloved figure in Christianity, known for his acts of kindness, protection, and miracles. His legacy continues to inspire and bring joy to people around the world, especially during the festive season when he is associated with the popular figure of Santa Claus.