‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…‘
It is time for some good old story-telling we all deserve, anyway it’s the night before Christmas 🙂
Long time ago, in a place called Myra (modern day Turkey) there once was boy named Nicholas. His parents hoped that he would do great things one day, which befit his name meaning “hero of the people.” He grew up with piety and kindness in his heart and gave up his inherited wealth to help the poor and the sick.
In one village, Nicholas had learned an impending sad fate of an old man and his three young daughters. They were so poor that the man could no longer afford to feed his daughters, that he was considering sending them away.
That night while everyone slept, Nicholas climbed up the hut and up by the chimney he dropped bags of gold, which fell on the three stockings hung to dry by the fireplace that evening by the sisters.
The following morning, the three girls were surprised and were overjoyed to see bags of gold coins in their stockings. “Father!” they called, running to wake him. “We have received a magical gift!”
This wonderful story spread from village to village that people started to hang stockings by the fire, hoping they too will wake up with their own magical gift the next day.
Nicholas loved delivering secret gifts of hope and joy. He wore a long red robe with a red hat so that children would immediately spot him to greet him.
So have you been naughty or nice? Check NORAD’s Santa tracker, who know he might show up with surprises tonight! Merry Christmas!
Nicholas is the patron saint of children, sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, courtesans, brewers, pawnbrokers, unmarried people, and students in various cities and countries around Europe. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints, and his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus (“Saint Nick”) through Sinterklaas.
set it good 