Hundreds of years back, Nicholas was born to a wealthy Christian family
in Patara in around 280 AD. The place is near Myra in modern-day Turkey.
He was so kind and pious that he helped anyone who came his way and soon
many legends about his good deeds became popular. Later, he became the
Bishop of Myra. He had inherited a large property, which he used from
time to time to help the poor and the sick. He traveled anonymously in
the night to ensure that all of his parishioners are well fed and happy.
During one of his visits, he heard a family lamenting about their
misfortunes and poverty and how they were forced to sell the three poor
sisters into slavery or prostitution as their father was unable to
provide a suitable dowry to them or even provide food and clothes to
them.
That very night, Nicholas threw three purses of gold secretly into
their home from the chimney thus, saving them from shame and distress.
Later, he became more and more popular as the protector and the patron
saint of children and sailors. His feast is celebrated every year on his
death anniversary on 6th of December and on this day, it considered
lucky day to get married or buy more ad more things. His popularity kept
growing and by the Renaissance, he was the most popular European saint,
especially in Holland. Even when Protestants discouraged the veneration
of saints, St. Nicholas continued to enjoy his status and positive
reputation and remained one with Christmas forever as Santa Claus or
Father Christmas.
