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Viewpoint from Jane Walters 06/12/2024
 Jane Walters
Chair of the Association of Christian Writers and member of Christ Community Church, Attleborough
St Nicholas Day
In the UK, we might only be toe-deep into Advent – the season of countdown towards Christmas – but in many countries today, 6 December, people are celebrating the feast day of St Nicholas. If you’re anything like me, I’d have had you at ‘feast’, but let’s look some more at this ancient Christian saint, the Bishop of Myra in modern day Turkey, who died on this day in 343AD
When Nicholas lost both his parents to the plague, he inherited great wealth, and set about systematically and anonymously giving this money away. Legends of his exploits include bringing back to life three children who had been killed by a butcher (let’s leave the details there); then three unmarried women without dowries were spared a life of prostitution when he stealthily delivered bags of gold on three consecutive nights. Apparently, he also calmed a storm, saving those caught up in it. It’s no wonder he became the patron saint of various groups, including children, sailors, merchants, unmarried people, students – the list goes on
 There is no doubt that the real St. Nicholas inspired the figure of Santa Claus / Father Christmas. What isn’t there to love about someone who goes around distributing gifts and spreading cheer? Who doesn’t like the sense of justice that those who have been good will get rewarded with lovely treats, whilst those who haven’t can only expect coal or a twig?
The shift, of course, is that our modern culture has twisted the emphasis. Children are encouraged to write their letters to Santa so that they get the goodies they have their eyes on. We don’t hear of children writing to let him know what they’d like others to receive. St Nicholas was rich, yes, (and only because he had lost the great treasure of having both parents) but his heart was so outward facing that he seems to have grasped every opportunity to help those in need. That he did so anonymously says it all. None of this was about him, but only on those he had compassion for
St Nicholas was, of course, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, whom he served. This year, while the world continues to bury the Nativity story under mountains of tinsel, let’s look again at this generous, kind-hearted saint and pledge to follow not just in his footsteps, but those of Jesus Himself
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