Saint Nicholas was a bishop from Myra in Lycia, Asia Minor.  He became known as the 
patron saint of seamen, travelers, merchants, parish clerks, virgins, and, last but not least, 
children.


He is recognized in both Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches.  At one time his 
sainthood was elaborately celebrated in English schools, but this practice ceased after the 
Protestant Reformation.


The best known legend regarding Saint Nicholas was his yearly secret visits to the home 
of a poor nobleman who was distressed over the future of his three impoverished 
daughters.  On three successive nights, starting on December 6th, he would throw a purse 
of gold through the poor nobleman’s window for each of his impoverished children.  
After this saintly benefactor passed away, December 6th became known as the “Eve of 
Saint Nicholas” and it became a custom in Europe for parents to place secret gifts in the 
stockings or shoes of their children on the pretense that Saint Nicholas had put them there 
while they slept. 


As time passed, this custom of gift-giving was changed from December 6th to December 
24th and "The Eve of Saint Nicholas" became known as "Christmas Eve."  


Today, Saint Nicholas is more prominently known as Santa Claus.  This is because of the 
Dutch translation from Saint Nicholas to Sant Claus.  The Dutch were prominently 
involved at the time in changing December 6th "The Eve of Saint Nicholas" to December 
24th "Christmas Eve."  


Of all the gifts we give or receive, the gift of love is the most cherished and the most 
everlasting.


I would like to wish everyone a very merry and bountiful Christmas, and with the dawn of 
another year on the horizon, a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.


Joseph Vosbikian