Soul Food

Michele Marr

Next Thursday is St. Nicholas Day, one of my favorite days of the

year.

I was introduced to the day in 1984 while I lived with my husband

Michael in a small Bavarian village called Edelsfeld, not far from

Nuremberg. It was like discovering the anticipation and joy of Christmas

as a child all over again.

In Germany and many of other European countries, St. Nicholas brings

candies, fruits and small gifts to children on Dec. 6, the day the church

celebrates a feast in his honor. He often leaves these gifts in their

shoes, left conveniently by the door.

Nicholas lived in the 4th century and became the Bishop of Myra in

Lycia, Asia Minor, at a rather young age. Great benevolence, piety, faith

and many miracles are attributed to him.

The son of a wealthy family, he is said to have distributed his whole

inheritance to the poor. One story in particular is often retold.

Word reached Nicholas about a once-wealthy man who had fallen on hard

times, great need and poverty. He had three grown daughters. Together,

their circumstances were so extreme the man considered giving his

daughters over to prostitution in order to save them all from starvation.

Nicholas was grieved and moved by their plight. So, the story goes, he

secretly tossed three sacks of gold -- enough to serve as a dowry for

each daughter -- through the window of the poor man’s house.

His charity saved them from hunger and spiritual destruction. The

grateful father, it is said, chased Nicholas down to discover his

benefactor. Nicholas swore the man to secrecy, but he did not uphold this

oath it seems, and so we know the story.

Nicholas’ prayers are said to have rescued sailors from deadly seas.

His interventions are reported to have saved a number of men unjustly

accused and imprisoned.

The Emperor Diocletian, during his persecution of Christians,

imprisoned Nicholas himself. Constantine, after his accession to rule,

released him.

Even in death miracles are attributed to this saint. A substance,

known as Manna di S. Nicola, is said to flow from his remains, which are

preserved in the church of San Nicola in Bari, Italy. It is highly valued

for its healing properties.

St. Nicholas is one of the most beloved saints in the Christian

church, east and west. It is his great kindheartedness and Christian

charity that is most remembered and celebrated.

It is St. Nicholas, too, who keeps a ledger of children’s deeds, bad

and good.

On my first Dec. 6 in Edelsfeld, a friend invited me to join her

family and their three young children, Sebastian, Johannes, Nadine, for

the visitation of St. Nicholas.

We gathered in the dining room around the table. Traude poured wine

for the adults. The children were too excited for food or drink. “Basti,”

not yet quite three, clasped his round cheeks in his small fists and

sighed in anticipation.

At last came the knock on the door. The children all stood. Their

father Hans answered the door. “Basti” gasped. There stood Nicholas, his

ledger in hand and a sack at his feet.

Nicholas lifted his sack and came in. He greeted each child by name.

Nadine played him a tune on her flute. Johannes played another on

recorder. Basti recited a breathless rhyme.

Then Nicholas opened his ledger. Nadine and Johannes stood like

soldiers, braced for the worst. Basti flushed and trembled.

When all accounts were read, Nicholas declared there were more good

deeds than bad. The children jumped and clapped. Nicholas opened his

sack. Out spilled colorful chocolates, wrapped in shining foil, nuts,

cakes and winter fruits.

I have not seen St. Nicholas since I returned to the U.S. But often,

on Dec. 6, I find two shoes, one my husband’s and one mine, filled with

foil-wrapped chocolates, nuts and Satsumas.

I don’t mind that Nicholas comes, as he likes, in secret. I remember

him fondly and enjoy his gifts with a happy heart.

* MICHELE MARR is a freelance writer and graphic designer from

Huntington Beach. She has been interested in religion and ethics for as

long as she can remember. She can be reached at o7

[email protected]