One of our favorite December traditions is celebrating St. Nicholas Day on December 6. My daughters have owned real Dutch wooden shoes since the Christmas of 1999. My in-laws had traveled to Holland and purchased them from a man making the shoes in front of them. They chose green ones for Courtney, my oldest, and red ones with yellow designs for Claire. Each year on the evening of Dec. 5, the girls put their wooden shoes by the front door after listening to me read the true story of St. Nicholas. We have not lied to our children and told them that there is a Santa Claus. Nor do we disrespect any one who does allow their children to believe in Santa. My husband and I decided early in our marriage, before we even had children, that we would not lie to them about such traditions like santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, etc because we didn't want them growing up wondering if the other things we were teaching them was just lies. Things like Jesus being our Savior and dying on a cross. Things like a man being resurrected from the dead to live again. Things like Satan/demons. We are teaching our daughters the Truth, based on the Bible, about what Christmas really is. We are also teaching them that YES, there WAS a man who was an awesome person who was later "sainted" and that is where the tradition of the secular "santa claus" came from. It originated in Europe and the legend of santa claus was brought to America from the Germans.
The books we used were always from the town library. However, about 4 years ago, I discovered a new book (c. 2003) called "Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend" by Julie Stiegemeyer and illustrated by Chris Ellison. This is a book I highly recommend for all families of children....no matter what the age. The book is most appropriate, if reading aloud, for ages 4-adult. There is a glossery of terms in the back of the book. Some of the words that are defined are: Asia Minor, dowry, Lycia, Myra, pastor, Paul, Saint. Many children don't know that the present day country of Turkey, was once called Asia Minor. (they do cover it in some social studies classes in public schools but many schools do not).
Quick summary of the book: Nicholas was a pastor in 4th century Lycia. He knew of a man who could not afford a proper dowry for his daughters to get married. Because of his generosity and kindness, he prayed about how he could help this family. One night, he left 3 bags of gold on the floor of the man's house. Now the daughters could get married. Tales of his generosity spread throughout the land and he became known as Father Christmas. People continue to give gifts at Christmas time to share God's love and show kindness to others. The end of the book talks about God's greatest gift of all; Jesus. There is a note to grown-ups in the back of the book by the author. She goes on to explain that her book is somewhat fictionalized but that Nicholas really was a historical figure who lived in the 4th century. He was bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia. The people there had already heard the good news of Jesus from Paul the Apostle (as recorded in Acts 27: 5-6). Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia. The legends about the North Pole, reindeer that fly and giving gifts all over the world on Christmas Eve were created to enhance his story. But his generosity is based on historical fact. The part about giving money towards the girls' dowries is believed to be factual. His feast day (the day he died), is December 6th. Many families observe this day by having their children put shoes by the door when they go to bed on 12/5. When the children wake up they find gold-foil wrapped chocolate coins. (for my daughters, I buy the chocolate coins found in the kosher food section of the local market and a couple of little gifts like nail polish, barrettes, earrings.)
The significance of St. Nicholas for people today is that "his response to God's great love for us in Jesus was to care for other people. His kindness and care for children are modeled every time we give a gift out of love."
So...on Dec 5, my girls will put out their wooden shoes, now much too small for them! They will hurry down the stairs before school on Dec. 6 (this coming Thursday!) and shout with delight at their chocolate coins and nail polish. And we will thank God for men like Nicholas who faced persecution as a Christian, who was imprisoned for being a Believer, and we will thank the Lord for his precious Son Jesus who shows us how to be loving and kind.
Another good book about St. Nicholas: "A Gift From St. Nicholas" by Cristine Bolley and illustrated by Bruce Eagle. It is written in poetry style and is like a "letter" from St. Nicholas to all children. (perhaps I will post the poem on another day!)......right now....it is off to yet another Dec. tradition: curling up together in the family room, all 4 of us in our cosy jammies, eating a couple of first batch xmas cookies (thank you Courtney for baking them while I gave Claire a bath!), and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" dvd before falling into bed.
Traditions....aren't they great??
The books we used were always from the town library. However, about 4 years ago, I discovered a new book (c. 2003) called "Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend" by Julie Stiegemeyer and illustrated by Chris Ellison. This is a book I highly recommend for all families of children....no matter what the age. The book is most appropriate, if reading aloud, for ages 4-adult. There is a glossery of terms in the back of the book. Some of the words that are defined are: Asia Minor, dowry, Lycia, Myra, pastor, Paul, Saint. Many children don't know that the present day country of Turkey, was once called Asia Minor. (they do cover it in some social studies classes in public schools but many schools do not).
Quick summary of the book: Nicholas was a pastor in 4th century Lycia. He knew of a man who could not afford a proper dowry for his daughters to get married. Because of his generosity and kindness, he prayed about how he could help this family. One night, he left 3 bags of gold on the floor of the man's house. Now the daughters could get married. Tales of his generosity spread throughout the land and he became known as Father Christmas. People continue to give gifts at Christmas time to share God's love and show kindness to others. The end of the book talks about God's greatest gift of all; Jesus. There is a note to grown-ups in the back of the book by the author. She goes on to explain that her book is somewhat fictionalized but that Nicholas really was a historical figure who lived in the 4th century. He was bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia. The people there had already heard the good news of Jesus from Paul the Apostle (as recorded in Acts 27: 5-6). Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia. The legends about the North Pole, reindeer that fly and giving gifts all over the world on Christmas Eve were created to enhance his story. But his generosity is based on historical fact. The part about giving money towards the girls' dowries is believed to be factual. His feast day (the day he died), is December 6th. Many families observe this day by having their children put shoes by the door when they go to bed on 12/5. When the children wake up they find gold-foil wrapped chocolate coins. (for my daughters, I buy the chocolate coins found in the kosher food section of the local market and a couple of little gifts like nail polish, barrettes, earrings.)
The significance of St. Nicholas for people today is that "his response to God's great love for us in Jesus was to care for other people. His kindness and care for children are modeled every time we give a gift out of love."
So...on Dec 5, my girls will put out their wooden shoes, now much too small for them! They will hurry down the stairs before school on Dec. 6 (this coming Thursday!) and shout with delight at their chocolate coins and nail polish. And we will thank God for men like Nicholas who faced persecution as a Christian, who was imprisoned for being a Believer, and we will thank the Lord for his precious Son Jesus who shows us how to be loving and kind.
Another good book about St. Nicholas: "A Gift From St. Nicholas" by Cristine Bolley and illustrated by Bruce Eagle. It is written in poetry style and is like a "letter" from St. Nicholas to all children. (perhaps I will post the poem on another day!)......right now....it is off to yet another Dec. tradition: curling up together in the family room, all 4 of us in our cosy jammies, eating a couple of first batch xmas cookies (thank you Courtney for baking them while I gave Claire a bath!), and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" dvd before falling into bed.
Traditions....aren't they great??
3 comments:
Neat! I enjoyed this. I knew a few things about the original St. Nicholas, but not all. I didn't realize he was the patron Saint of Russia. I will tell my son, who is studying Russian in college! Thanks for a great read. Hugs, e-Mom
Hi, thanks for the wonderful comments you always leave me---and thanks for this idea...I do plan on getting this book now and making it a tradition...thanks again....
Lill
Hi E-Mom: according to the author he was made a patron saint....I am assuming that is accurate..your son might be able to find out! Thanks for visiting!
Hi Lill: you and your daughter will LOVE reading the real story of St. Nicholas. My girls love the tradition and the book has a special place on our family room coffee table! Happy Reading and celebrating!
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