It’s a shame most American’s don’t observe St. Nicholas Day.  For some children in Europe, today is the major day for receiving gifts rather than Christmas.  I think my favorite celebration is in the Netherlands where Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain.

The real Nicholas was a Christian saint, the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the fourth century. He was imprisoned for his faith and later became one of the signers of the Nicene Creed.

According to tradition, Nicholas helped a poor man who could not afford a dowry for his three daughters. He went to the house secretly at night and threw three purses filled with gold coins through the window into the house. This legend is what connects St. Nicholas with gift giving.

The real spirit of Nicholas is generosity rather than gift-giving. We get so caught up in giving and receiving “stuff” this time of year that the point is lost.   C. S. Lewis wrote about the fictitious holiday Exmas that was a time when people “buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself”  (Xmas and Christmas). I saw that happen at a $5 grab-bag Christmas party once. What a waste when so many are in need.

May we be inspired by the generosity and faith of St. Nicholas who unswervingly proclaimed the Son of God who “for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.”  That’s the true reason for the season.

Read Hebrews 13:16 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne