The Story of Saint Nick
Nicholas was a real person
born during the third century to wealthy parents who
raised him as a devout Christian. They died when he was very young.
On his own, Nicholas obeyed Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the
money to the poor. He used his entire inheritance to help the needy, sick
and suffering. Nicholas dedicated his life to God and as a young man was made
a Bishop. He was known throughout the land for his generosity. His life
continued in this manner until his death on December 6th. People were so
devoted to Bishop Nicholas for his love and generosity that they made a day
of celebration on the anniversary of his death, and over the centuries he became
known as St. Nicholas.
Other St. Nick Christmas Collectibles and Ornaments
More about the Legend of Saint Nick and Christmas Stockings
Hanging stockings is often
attributed to St. Nicholas because of his giving nature.
Long ago there lived a poor man with three daughters who each needed a dowry
so they could get married. A dowry is something of value to give to a
prospective
husband: without it a woman would typically not be able to marry. Thus, this
man's three daughters would likely have been sold into slavery.
Mysteriously, on three occasions, a bag of gold appeared in
the poor man's home,
providing the much needed dowry. The bags of gold were silently tossed by
St. Nicholas at night through an open window, landing in the stockings or shoes
left
by the fire to dry. This led to the custom of hanging a stocking or putting out
shoes
to await a special gift from St. Nicholas; a tradition which carries on to this
very day!