The Spirit of St. Nicholas--Week 3

How did the legend of St. Nicholas come to the New World or the United States? .  This had a great deal to do with the Dutch settlers who came to this country in the 17^th century.

When these settlers came to the New World, their lead ship had a  figure head, or statue, on the front of the ship, of St. Nicholas, or as the Dutch called him, Sinter Klaas, the patron saint of sailors, to guarantee safe passage.  When the Dutch arrived in the New World, they gave thanks to the Patron Saint of Sailors for their safe arrival. 

    

St. Nicholas’ influence continued far beyond that of the safe arrival of ships.  As retold in Washington Irving’s famous book DiedriechKnickerbocker: An History of New York City from the Beginning of the World tothe End of the Dutch Dynasty Oloffe Van Kortland, a member of the Dutch development council, was asked to choose a site for the new city.  Van Kortland went in search of an appropriate area and promptly fell asleep in the woods.  He awoke when he heard the sound of sleigh bells.  He looked up in the sky and saw a miniature sleigh pulled by reindeer above the treetops.  Soon it landed in a clearing and out of the sleigh hopped Sinter Klaas.  He came to Van Kortland and said he would assist him in finding the ideal location to establish what would become the greatest city in the New World.

Sinter Klaas gave Van Kortland very specific instructions.  I will take drag of my pipe, and blow the smoke into the air.  You are to follow that smoke until it settles on the ground.  Where that smoke settles, I want you to establish the city of New Amsterdam.  Van Kortland followed Sinter Klaas’ instructions exactly.

When all was said and done, New Amsterdam was established, and became one of the busier cities in the New World. As thanks to Sinter Klaas for help in establishing the city of New Amsterdam, the people of the city made St. Nicholas the patron saint of the city. 

Eventually, people of many countries came to New Amsterdam.  Many of them were British.  They eventually became the leaders of the town and on June 12^th, 1665.  New Amsterdam was renamed New York in honor of the King of England’s brother, the Duke of York.  The British did not however, change their patron saint.  St. Nicholas remains to this very day the patron saint of New York City. To date, there are six churches of various denominations dedicated to St. Nicholas in the city of New York.  One of them, The Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas (Reformed Church in America) can trace its roots back to the original  St. Nicholas Church established by the Dutch in New Amsterdam. 

Time passed, and more and more immigrants came from England to New York City.  The English did not speak Dutch, so rather than call St. Nicholas Sinter Klaas; they began to call him Santa Claus.  In 1822, Clement C. Moore wrote a poem for his children about a Christmas visit from St. Nicholas.  In this poem, he talked about a jolly old elf that came down the chimney and filled the children’s stockings. 

Many of Mr. Moore’s friends asked for copies of his poem and in 1823, one of these friends published the poem anonymously in the Troy, New York Sentinel.  It later became popularly known by its first line “T’was the night BeforeChristmas”.

 As more immigrants came to America, they brought with them their traditions of St. Nicholas.  Decorating Christmas trees, hanging of stockings and the giving of gifts are all traditions brought from the celebrations of St. Nicholas throughout Europe. 

All of the wonderful celebrations are still celebrated to this day.  Many children put out their shoes on December 5^th for St. Nicholas Day.  Many oldest daughters adorned in white gowns and candle lit wreaths bring their parents breakfast on December 13th for St. Lucia Day.

 The main holiday for many people is the birth date of Jesus on December 25^th  Christmas Day.  There are others that celebrate the coming of the Magi, or the Epiphany on January 6^th. 

It doesn't really matter when you celebrate; all of these wonderful feasts celebrate the Christmas Season.  

To hear more of the stories of St. Nicholas, check out Nicholas Comes to America, the Story of Santa Claus.  There is still time to order in time for Christmas delivery!

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