On St. Nicholas Day we celebrate the memory of St. Nicholas of Myra, who is said to have died on December 06. He was a respected bishop who, because of his good deeds, is one of the most popular saints to this day.
Nicholas of Myra was born between 270 and 286 AD in Patara (modern Turkey), which at that time belonged to the Roman Empire. According to tradition, Nicholas was ordained a priest at the age of 19 and became an abbot in the monastery of Sion near Myra. During the persecution of Christians in 310, he was imprisoned and tortured.
There are numerous legends and myths surrounding St. Nicholas and his deeds, which is why he became so popular and gained importance. They convey the image of a generous and helpful person who relieved people's distress with his deeds.
For example, Saint Nicholas is also considered the patron saint of seafaring because, according to legend, he once helped sailors in need of help at sea. A man with supernatural abilities is said to have suddenly appeared and steered the ship, set the sails and even made the storm disappear. In gratitude for their rescue from the greatest distress, the sailors prayed in the church of Myra, where they recognized and thanked their savior - St. Nicholas.
In the Middle Ages, it was then traditional to give presents to the poor and children on December 6 - just like St. Nicholas, who is also said to have been especially kind to children. With the Reformation by Martin Luther around 1535, the tradition changed, especially for Protestants. They rejected the veneration of the saint and the giving of presents to St. Nicholas; instead, the "Holy Christ" was to bring the presents on December 24. Over the years, the "Holy Christ" then became the Christ Child. At the beginning of the 20th century, this was also accepted by Catholics.
Nowadays, there is often a little treat for children on St. Nicholas' Day, but the big gift-giving ceremony does not take place. Particularly popular is the custom of placing a boot in front of the door or hanging socks on the chimney on the evening before St. Nicholas Day, which are filled by St. Nicholas overnight. This tradition goes back to a legend about St. Nicholas: he helped a poor father of three daughters who could not marry them off due to lack of money. St. Nicholas threw gold coins down the family's chimney on three consecutive nights. One of these coins got caught in the girls' stockings, which they hung on the chimney to dry, as usual. In this way, St. Nicholas saved the girls from a bad fate. Since then, on St. Nicholas' Eve, the socks are hung up and the shoes are put outside the door.