The figure of St. Nicholas is surrounded by many beautiful legends. He was probably worshipped as early as the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries, first in Constantinople, then throughout the East. In the middle of the 8th century, the cult of St. Nicholas reached the West. In Poland, he is the patron saint of more than 300 churches.
Legends say that St. Nicholas was born in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries in the city of Patara, in what is now Turkey. He was the only child of wealthy and already mature parents. From an early age, he felt a vocation to the priesthood and realized his desire when he received ordination at the hands of his uncle, Bishop of Myra.
He was a man of great kindness and modesty. He shared his wealth with all those in need. One of the tales of Nicholas' generosity was the story of the three daughters of a very poor resident of Licia, who, unable to provide the girls with any dowry, was forced to give them to a brothel. Thanks to Santa's help in dropping off bags of gold to him at night, all three maidens happily married. The saint was also greatly credited with saving Emperor Diocletian's Christian soldiers from execution.
As a reward for his kindness, St. Nicholas received from God the gift of working miracles. He was able to save shipwrecked people from the waves of the sea and made grain grow even in years of crop failure. Stories about his miraculous deeds were passed down from generation to generation. Nicholas became the patron saint of castaways, sailors, fishermen, rafters and carriers, and had the power to tame storms, high waves, lightning and thunderstorms. He also extended his protection to prisoners and prisoners of war, monks, scholars, writers, notaries, students before exams, millers, brewers and virtuous spinsters.
The cult of St. Nicholas was popular as early as the Middle Ages. Since the 10th century, on December 6, the day of his death, performances introducing the saint's life could be seen in the markets of various European cities. On that day, special boxes appeared in Polish churches, into which the faithful dropped donations, intended for dowries for the poorest girls of the parish.
w. St. Nicholas held a special place in Polish folk tradition. Łukasz Gołębiowski, in his work "Lud polski. His customs, superstitions", published in 1830, states when describing the Kuyavia region that the Kuyavians "consider St. Nicholas their patron saint; they go to him in all their needs". In Kashubia, he was recognized primarily as the protector of fishermen and sailors. It was also believed that frosts appearing at the beginning of December stop the work of water mills, as noted by a Kashubian saying: "For Santa Claus, the earth stops the wheels."
In other regions of Poland, the saint's help was sought in caring for cattle and flocks, and he was also asked to protect them from wolves. Therefore, on the day of his feast, cattle were sprinkled with holy water and the sign of the cross was made over them. In eastern and southeastern Poland, farmers and shepherds prayed for prosperity in breeding and grazing, burned fires and placed gifts such as flax, hemp, poultry, rams, sheep and honey on altars in Orthodox churches and churches. Merchants recommended themselves to his care on roads full of robbers, and parents with troubled children prayed to him. It was believed that St. Nicholas protected homes from mice and rats, and that by fasting and praying to him, the plague of rodents could be averted.
In the second half of the 19th century, the custom of going with Santa Claus took hold in Malopolska. On December 6, a man chosen from the community, usually an organist, would dress up as St. Nicholas and, accompanied by Angels equipped with baskets of sweets (for good children) and rods (for the less obedient), would visit all the houses. They were followed by the Grandfather and the Devil. During these visits, St. Nicholas quizzed the children on their knowledge of prayers. If they were able to recite the prayers - they received a gift. Otherwise, the Devil handed them a rod. Then began the examination of youngsters on their knowledge of the catechism. A positive result meant a gift, while in the case of educational deficiencies, the Devil would pull out the rod and start beating the delinquent. After the visit was paid, it was in good taste to hand small coins to all members of the procession.
Trzeba jednak podkreślić, że św. Mikołaj to w szczególności opiekun dzieci, którym co roku przynosi prezenty. Zwyczaj obdarowywania dzieci w tym dniu sięga w Polsce XVIII wieku. Dawniej były to najczęściej: pierniki, obwarzanki, drewniane zabawki, obrazki i ciepła odzież. Czasem przynosił je przebrany za św. Mikołaja mężczyzna, niekiedy wkładano je do wystawionych butów i pończoch. Zbigniew Kuchowicz podaje, że w 1746 roku pisano: „Rodzice na […] pamiątkę szczodrobliwości św. Mikołaja […] zwykli co rok na wigilię święta dla zachęcenia do nabożeństwa dziatkom swoim śpiącym różne podarunki zawiązywać i podrzucać, powiadając, iż im to św. Mikołaj przyniósł, ale rozkazał <Żebyście paciorek nabożnie rano i wieczór mówili, rodziców słuchali> przy czym rodzice dają dzieciom inne jeszcze napomnienia”.
For centuries, similar emotions have filled successive generations of children, who eagerly await St. Nicholas Day gifts and have been waiting for this important moment for them since December 5. Some of them have some misgivings about whether they deserve the reward, but after all, St. Nicholas is a good man and can sometimes turn a blind eye to some minor shortcomings. As the saying goes: "A bunch of children will rejoice at St. Nicholas, for boys and girls are waiting for the gift; some will have a cackle that they have performed gracefully, and others for encouragement, so that they will not be fidgety."
Text: Joanna Radziewicz
Photo: polona.pl - public domain
Sources:
1. Blazejewska S.: Santa Claus - the saint not only from presents. https://www.polskieradio24.pl/
2. Santa Claus and mikołajki. polskatradycja.pl.
3. Pawlowska K.: Santa Claus in folk tradition. Niedziela Włocławska 49/2004.
4. Ferenc E.: Polish Christmas traditions. Poznan, 2010.
