The old Saint Nicholas arrives
in Romania on the 6th of December, every year. His coming announces the
beginning of the winter holidays, the Christmas and the New Year.
Saint Nicholas is generous
not only with the children, but the adults, too. On the evening of the
5th of December, the boots are being happily polished in every home. People
usually put the boots near the entrance door, waiting for the presents.
Saint Nicholas takes care of each member of the family. He puts a little
present into every one's boots.
But who is Saint Nicholas?
The parents, of course. And who is the one who puts presents in the parents'
boots? The rest of family. This custom is very old in Romania, and Saint
Nicholas Day is one of the most important festivals of the year, especially
for the children.
All that is known of Nicholas
is that he was Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor during the 4th century. Legend
tells how a noble but poor man was thinking of prostituting his three daughters
because he was unable to provide them with a dowry. Nicholas threw three
golden balls or bags of gold through the window of their house and withdrew
unseen, thereby saving them from their fate. He is patron saint of sailors
and of children, and also the origin of Father Christmas- Santa Claus being
a derivative of St Nicholas- an identification probably derived from his
patronage of children and his charitable acts of presenting gifts by night.
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