Święty Mikołaj

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Saint Nicholas is a popular subject portrayed on countless Eastern Orthodox icons, particularly Russian ones. He is depicted as an Orthodox bishop, wearing the omophorion and holding a Gospel Book, sometimes he is depicted wearing the Eastern Orthodox mitre, sometimes he is bareheaded. Iconographically, Nicholas is depicted as an elderly man with a short, full white beard and balding head. In commemoration of the miracle attributed to him by tradition at the Ecumenical Council of Nicea, he is sometimes depicted with Christ over his left shoulder holding out a Gospel Book to him and the Theotokos over his right shoulder holding the omophorion. Because of his patronage of mariners, occasionally Saint Nicholas will be shown standing in a boat or rescuing a drowning sailor.
In Roman Catholic iconography, Saint Nicholas is depicted as a bishop, wearing the insignia of this dignity: a red bishop's cloak, a red miter and a bishop's crozier. The episode with the three dowries is commemorated by showing him holding in his hand either three purses, three coins or three balls of gold. Depending on whether he is depicted as patron saint of children or sailors, his images will be completed by a background showing ships, children or three figures climbing out of a wooden barrel (the three slaughtered children he resurrected).
In a strange twist, the three gold balls referring to the dowry affair are sometimes metaphorically interpreted as being oranges or other fruits. As in the Low Countries in medieval times oranges most frequently came from Spain, this led to the belief that the Saint lives in Spain and comes to visit every winter bringing them oranges, other 'wintry' fruits and tales of magical creatures.

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The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, usually on 6 December, is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. "Santa Claus" is itself derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.

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Malta

In Malta St Nicholas is the patron Saint of the Village of Siggiewi.The ruins of the former parish church, dedicated to St Nicholas of Bari are still visible today. Lately, great restoration works have been carried out and retrieved its old glory. The baroque parish church, dedicated to the same saint, was erected by the villagers who raised the necessary funds between the years 1676 to 1693. It was designed by the Maltese architect, Lorenzo Gafà but underwent some changes throughout the years. The portico and naves were added by Professor Nicola Żammit in the latter half of the 19th century. He is kind to all people.

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Ireland

The saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus is believed to have been buried in Jerpoint Abbey in Kilkenny some 800 years ago. Originally buried in Myra in modern day Turkey, his body was moved from there to Italy in 1169, but said to have been taken afterwards to Ireland by Nicholas de Frainet, a distant relative. A Cistercian abbey, the church of Saint Nicholas, was built by his family there and dedicated to the memory of the saint. A slab grave on the ground of this church claims to hold his remains. There is a yearly Mass in relation to the memory of Saint Nicholas, but otherwise the celebration is quite low key

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Italy

St. Nicholas (San Nicola) is the patron of the city of Bari, where it is believed he is buried. Its deeply felt celebration is called the Festa di San Nicola, held on the 7–9 of May. In particular on 8 May the relics of the saint are carried on a boat on the sea in front of the city with many boats following (Festa a mare). On 6 December there is a ritual called the Rito delle nubili. The same tradition is currently observed in Sassari, where during the day of Saint Nicholas, patron of the city, gifts are given to young brides who need help before getting married.
In Trieste, St. Nicholas (San Nicolò is celebrated with gifts given to children on the morning of 6 December and with a fair called Fiera di San Nicolò during the first weeks of December. Depending on the cultural background, in some families this celebration is more important than Christmas. Trieste is a city on the sea, being one of the main ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is influenced mainly by Italian, Slovenian and German cultures, but also Greek and Serbian.

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Portugal

In one city (Guimarães) in Portugal, St. Nicholas (São Nicolau) has been celebrated since the Middle Ages as the patron saint of high-school students, in the so called Nicolinas, a group of festivities that occur from 29 November to 7 December each year. In the rest of Portugal this is not celebrated.

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In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' Eve (5 December) is the primary occasion for gift-giving, when his reputed birthday is celebrated.
In the days leading up to 5 December (starting when Saint Nicholas has arrived in the Netherlands by steamboat in late November), young children put their shoes in front of the chimneys and sing Sinterklaas songs. Often they put a carrot or some hay in the shoes, as a gift to St. Nicholas' horse. (In recent years the horse has been named Amerigo in The Netherlands and Slechtweervandaag in Flanders.) The next morning they will find a small present in their shoes, ranging from sweets to marbles or some other small toy. On the evening of 5 December, Sinterklaas brings presents to every child who has behaved him- or herself in the past year (in practice, just like with Santa Claus, all children receive gifts without distinction). This is often done by placing a bag filled with presents outside the house or living room, after which a neighbour or parent bangs the door or window, pretending to be Sinterklaas' assistant. Another option is to hire or ask someone to dress up as Sinterklaas and deliver the presents personally. Sinterklaas wears a bishop's robes including a red cape and mitre and is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dress, dating back two centuries. These helpers are called 'Zwarte Pieten' ("Black Petes") or "Père Fouettard" in the French-speaking part of Belgium.
The myth is, if a child had been naughty, the Zwarte Pieten put all the naughty children in sacks, and Sinterklaas took them to Spain (it is believed that Sinterklaas comes from Spain, where he returns after 5 December). Therefore, many Sinterklaas songs still allude to a watching Zwarte Piet and a judging Sinterklaas.
In the past number of years, there has been a recurrent discussion about the politically incorrect nature of the Moorish helper. In particular Dutch citizens with backgrounds from Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles might feel offended by the Dutch slavery history connected to this emblem and regard the Zwarte Pieten to be racist. Others state that the black skin color of Zwarte Piet originates in his profession as a chimneysweep, hence the delivery of packages though the chimney.
In recent years, Christmas (along with Santa Claus) has been pushed by shopkeepers as another gift-giving festival, with some success; although, especially for young children, Saint Nicholas' Eve is still much more important than Christmas. The rise of Father Christmas (known in Dutch as de Kerstman) is often cited as an example of globalisation and Americanisation.
On the Frisian islands (Waddeneilanden), the Sinterklaas feast has developed independently into traditions very different from the one on the mainland

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Germany

In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door on the night of 5 December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year. If they were not, they will have a tree branch (Rute) in their boots instead. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behavior basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades.
But for some children, Nikolaus also elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Ruprecht), who would threaten to beat the children for misbehavior as using this myth to 'bring up cheek children' for a better, good behavior. Any kind of punishment isn't really following and just an antic legend. Knecht Ruprecht furthermore was equipped with eight deer legs. In Switzerland, where he is called Schmutzli, he would threaten to put bad children in a sack and take them back to the dark forest. In other accounts he would throw the sack into the river, drowning the naughty children. These traditions were implemented more rigidly in Catholic countries and regions such as Austria or Bavaria.

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Central Europe

In highly Catholic regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behaviour and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod. In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (in reality, typically children of poor families), roamed the streets during the festival. They wore masks and dragged chains behind them. These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist. In Croatia Nikolaus (Sveti Nikola) who visits on Saint Nicholas day (Nikolinje) brings gifts to children commending them for their good behaviour over the past year and exhorting them to continue in the same manner in the year to come. If they fail to do so they will receive a visit from Krampus who traditionally leaves a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia Mikuláš, in Poland Mikołaj and in Ukraine Svyatyi Mykolay is often also accompanied by an angel (anděl/anioł/anhel) who acts as a counterweight to the ominous devil or Knecht Ruprecht (čert/czart). Additionally, in Poland children find the candy and small gifts under the pillow or in their shoes the evening of 5 December or the morning of December 6. In Ukraine this tradition is celebrated on 19 December. In Hungary and Romania children typically leave their boots on the windowsill on the evening of 5 December. By next morning Nikolaus (Szent Miklós traditionally but more commonly known as Mikulás in Hungary or Moş Nicolae (Sfântul Nicolae) in Romania) leaves candy and gifts if they have been good, or a rod (Hungarian: virgács, Romanian: nuieluşǎ if they have been bad (most kids end up getting small gifts but also a small rod). In Hungary he is often accompanied by the Krampusz, the frightening helper who is out to take away the bad ones. In Luxembourg Kleeschen is accompanied by the Houseker a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit. In Slovenia Saint Nikolaus (Miklavž) is accompanied by an angel and a devil (parkelj) corresponding to the Austrian Krampus.

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In Greece, Saint Nicholas does not carry an especial association with gift-giving, as this tradition is carried over to St. Basil of Cesarea, celebrated on New Year's Day. St. Nicholas being the protector of sailors, he is considered the patron saint of the Greek navy, war and merchant alike and his day is marked by festivities aboard all ships and boats, at sea and in port. It is also associated with the preceding feasts of St. Barbara (4 December), St. Savvas (5 December), and the following feast of St. Anne (9 December); all these are often collectively called the "Nikolobárbara", and are considered a succession of days that heralds the onset of truly wintry cold weather in the country. Therefore by tradition, homes should have already been laid with carpets, removed for the warm season, by St. Andrew's Day (30 November), a week ahead of the Nikolobárbara.

In Serbia and Republic of Macedonia, Saint Nicholas is celebrated as patron saint of many families, through the feast preserved amongst Serbs and inhabitants of Macedonia, widely known as slava. Since the feast of Saint Nicholas always falls in the fasting period preceding the Christmas, feast is celebrated according to the Eastern Orthodox Church fasting rules. Fasting refers in this context to the eating of a restricted diet for reasons of Religion.
In the Republic of Bulgaria, Saint Nicholas is one of the most celebrated saints. Many churches and monasteries are named after him. As a holiday Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the 6th of December.

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Saint Nicholas is celebrated by all the Christian communities in Lebanon: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian. Many places, churches, convents, and schools are named in honor of Saint Nicholas, such as Escalier Saint-Nicolas des Arts, Saint Nicolas Garden, and Saint Nicolas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

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Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of the town of Beit Jala. This little town, which is located only two kilometers to the west of Bethlehem, boasts of being the place where St. Nicholas spent four years of his life during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Every year on the 19th of December according to the Gregorian Calendar—that is the 6th of December according to the Julian Calendar—a solemn Divine Liturgy is held in the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, and is usually followed by parades, exhibitions, and many activities. Palestinian Christians and Palestinian Muslims of all sects, denominations and churches come to Beit Jala and participate in prayers and celebrations.

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While feasts of Saint Nicholas are not observed nationally, cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee, Cincinnati and St. Louis celebrate St. Nick's Day on a scale similar to the German custom.[18] As in other countries, many people in the United states celebrate a separate St Nicholas Day by putting their shoes outside their bedroom doors on the evening of Dec. 5th. St Nicholas then comes during the night. On the morning of Dec. 6th, those people will find their shoes filled with gifts and sugary treats. Widespread adoption of the tradition has spread among the German, Polish, Belgian and Dutch communities throughout the United States.
On the day after Thanksgiving or sometime in December, children and their families put up a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree is a medium-sized pine, fir, or spruce tree that they put in their family room and decorate with ornaments and garlands of all sorts. They also normally put a star or angel on the top, as a symbol of Christ's birth. On the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, each child puts one empty stocking/sock on their fireplace. The following morning of 25 of December, the children awake to find that St. Nick has filled their stockings with candy and small presents (if the children have been good) or coal (if not). Gifts often include chocolate gold coins to represent the gold St. Nick gave to the poor and small trinkets. They also awake to find presents under the tree, wrapped in Christmas-themed paper. For these children, the relationship between St. Nick and Santa Claus is not clearly defined. Some parents explain that St. Nick is the same person as Santa Claus with St. Nick being the "official" name and Santa Claus being the "children's" name, while other parents explain that St. Nick is a separate person that is a helper of Santa Claus

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The metamorphosis of Saint Nicholas into the more commercially lucrative Santa Claus, which took several centuries in Europe and America, has recently been re-enacted in the saint's home town: the city of Demre. This modern Turkish town is built near the ruins of ancient Myra. As St. Nicholas is a very popular Orthodox saint, the city attracts many Russian tourists. A solemn bronze statue of the Saint by the Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky, donated by the Russian government in 2000, was given a prominent place on the square in front of the medieval church of St. Nicholas. In 2005, mayor Suleyman Topcu had the statue replaced by a red-suited plastic Santa Claus statue, because he wanted the central statue to be more recognizable to visitors from all over the world. Protests from the Russian government against this action were successful only to the extent that the Russian statue was returned, without its original high pedestal, to a corner near the church.
Restoration on Saint Nicholas' original church in Demre is currently under way. In 2007, the Turkish Ministry of Culture gave permission for the Divine Liturgy to be celebrated at the site, and has contributed the sum of forty-thousand Turkish Lira to the project.

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Saint Nicolas, également connu sous le nom de Saint Nicolas de Myre ou de Saint Nicolas de Bari, né à Patara, en Lycie, en 270, mort en 345, est un saint populaire à l'origine du personnage du Père Noël.
Il est saint patron des Lorrains, des Russes, des Fribourgeois, des Ovillois, des écoliers, des étudiants, des enseignants, des marins, des hommes et femmes souffrant de stérilité, des célibataires, des vitriers, des bouchers, des voyageurs.
Sa commémoration chrétienne le 6 décembre (qui tombe actuellement le 19 décembre dans les pays qui utilisent le comput julien pour les fêtes religieuses) est une fête très populaire dans bien des pays du monde. À la Saint-Nicolas, la tradition veut que les enfants qui, durant toute l'année, ont été sages, reçoivent des friandises, de nature variable selon les régions, et des cadeaux. Ceux qui n'ont pas été sages se voient offrir un martinet par le père Fouettard, ce qui est rare, car il est possible de leur pardonner s'ils se repentent.

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Né à Patara, en Lycie, en 270, Nicolas se trouva à l'orphelinat à la suite d'une épidémie de peste. Il fut évêque de la ville de Myre, toujours en Lycie, située dans l'Anatolie du sud-ouest. Selon la tradition, il est présent au Ier concile de Nicée en 325. On fête l'anniversaire de sa mort le 6 décembre.
Sa vie est remplie d'anecdotes souvent représentées dans l'iconographie religieuse : ainsi, apprenant qu'un père n'a pas de quoi fournir une dot de mariage à ses trois jeunes filles et qu'il n'a d'autre moyen de survivre que de les livrer à la prostitution, Nicolas jette des bourses pleines d'argent dans leurs bas qu'elles avaient mis à sécher sur la cheminée. Grâce à lui, le père peut assurer le mariage de ses trois filles.
Il sauve également de la tempête les marins d'un bateau portant une cargaison de blé pour la ville de Myre.
Ses ossements sont conservés dans une église de Myre jusqu'au XIe siècle. Ils ont la particularité de suinter une huile sacrée. Cette manne est connue dans l'Europe du Moyen Age. Cette célébrité attire soixante-deux marins venus de Bari, qui volent et ramènent ces reliques, dont quelques fragments seront cédés à la cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Fribourg.

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Bien que destinée aux enfants, une des légendes de Saint-Nicolas est plutôt effrayante. « Ils étaient trois petits enfants qui, s'en allaient glaner aux champs, » comme dit la chanson, « Perdus, ils demandèrent l'hospitalité chez un boucher qui ne trouva rien de mieux que de les tuer, les découper et les mettre au saloir. Saint-Nicolas vint à passer sept ans plus tard et demanda à son tour l'hospitalité. Il insista pour manger le petit salé préparé sept ans plus tôt. Le boucher s'enfuit et Saint-Nicolas ressuscita les trois enfants. » C'est donc une légende heureuse, mais néanmoins assez effrayante. Selon certaines traditions, le père Fouettard qui accompagne Saint-Nicolas serait en fait le boucher de l'histoire. Pour lui faire regretter son méfait, ce dernier l'aurait condamné à l'accompagner lors de sa distribution de récompenses, en lui assignant la tâche de punir les enfants désobéissants. Une morale de la comptine, peut-être plus tardive, mais plus heureuse, fait s'enfuir le boucher ; Saint-Nicolas l'interpelle et lui dit que s'il se repent, Dieu lui pardonnera. Selon certains, le père Fouettard est une invention des Messins lors du siège de leur ville par les Impériaux, en pleine période de festivité de la Saint-Nicolas en 1552 après la mise en place du protectorat Français. De là leur serait venue l'idée de se moquer de l'assiégeant, Charles Quint, en le représentant sous les traits du boucher de la légende de Saint-Nicolas. Lors de sa naissance, Saint-Nicolas se serait tenu tout seul debout, bien droit sur ses jambes. Il s'agirait, de son tout premier miracle.

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Du fait de l'arrivée en Lorraine, d'une relique du saint, sa dextre bénissante, rapportée depuis Bari par le seigneur Aubert de Varangéville en 1087, Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, possède une église dédiée au saint qui est le patron de la Lorraine. Un chevalier lorrain, le sire Cunon de Réchicourt, fait prisonnier au cours de la sixième croisade, aurait prié Saint-Nicolas avant de s'endormir dans sa geôle. Le lendemain matin, il se serait réveillé, encore attaché, sur les marches de l'église et ses chaînes seraient tombées d'elles-même durant l'office qu'il suivit alors. Depuis, chaque année, le samedi le plus proche de la fête de Saint-Nicolas, a lieu une procession en mémoire de ce « miracle ». C'est au XVe siècle qu'une basilique gothique flamboyante a remplacé les églises précédentes, selon le souhait du duc René II, reconnaissant envers Saint-Nicolas de sa victoire sur Charles le Téméraire en 1477 à la Bataille de Nancy Dans chaque bourgade de Lorraine défile un corso en l'honneur de Saint-Nicolas. "Saint Nicolas" visite les maisons et gratifie les enfants sages de friandises et de cadeaux pour la plus grande joie des petits et des grands… qui entonnent la complainte de Saint Nicolas. En Lorraine germanophone, Saint Nicolas (Sankt Niklaus) est accompagné selon la tradition de son assistant Rupelz ou Rüpelz (équivalent du père Fouettard).

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święty mikołaj

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swiety mikolaj

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Mikołaj na Śląsku cieszył się wielkim kultem. Świadczy o tym liczba kościołów pod jego wezwaniem. Początkowo "Śląski" Mikołaj był pasterzem, który chronił bydło przed wilkami. W dniu 6 grudnia w kościołach składano w ofierze białe gęsi i koguty. W drugiej połowie XIX wieku zakazano tego typu praktyk.

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Obdarowywanie dzieci w tym dniu jest późniejsze i dotarło na Śląsk z kultury zachodniej. Święty przybywał z całym orszakiem. Byli w nim aniołowie, był też i diabeł. W naszych stronach dzieci kładąc się do łóżka w dniu 5 grudnia stawiały czasem talerz na parapet okna. A gdy się budziły w Mikołaja znajdowały na tym talerzu różne słodycze.

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W tradycji śląskiej ważne miejsce ma – sięgający II połowy XIX w. i zapożyczony prawdopodobnie z Niemiec – zwyczaj obdarowywania dzieci słodyczami 6 grudnia w dzień św. Mikołaja. Mikołaj, czyli postać przebrana za św. Mikołaja biskupa, wedle tradycji przynosi prezenty wieczorem – po zapadnięciu zmroku lub w nocy, kiedy dzieci śpią. W niektórych domach przybycie Mikołaja oznajmia dźwięk dzwoneczka. Podarunki mikołajowe są raczej drobne – np. słodycze, smakołyki, książeczki czy małe zabawki. Czas większych prezentów przychodził po adwentowym oczekiwaniu dopiero w wigilię Świąt Bożego Narodzenia, kiedy w śląskich domach pojawiało się Dzieciątko. Ono to przybywa zwykle z większymi podarunkami. Gdzieniegdzie w powiecie gliwickim zachowały się i są kultywowane dawne formy obchodzenia
dnia św. Mikołaja i nadal po południu i wieczorem domy odwiedza Mikołaj w mitrze i z pastorałem, któremu zazwyczaj towarzyszą diabeł i anioł. Diabeł z widłami, rzemieniem i powrozem straszy niegrzeczne dzieci, a także wypomina im ich całoroczne przewinienia, zaś anioł zapewnia, że dziecko nie było jednak takie złe i trzeba dać mu jeszcze szansę, po czym
pomaga Mikołajowi wyciągać z wielkiego wora niespodzianki. W przeszłości „prezentem” dla niegrzecznych dzieci była rózga lub „tytka z wąglem abo łoszkrabinami” (papierowa torebka z węglem lub obierkami – np. z jabłek, kartofli), jednak zazwyczaj nawet największy łobuz dostawał jeszcze choć drobny słodki upominek, z komentarzem, że to „na zachętę”
i że za rok Mikołaj może nie być już tak pobłażliwy dla wybryków małego gagatka.
Obecnie zwyczaj ten kultywowany jest w niektórych prywatnych domach, ale przede wszystkim w przedszkolach i szkołach, gdzie dzieci odwiedzane są przez Mikołaja w stroju biskupa, obdarowującego je prezentami. Nie otrzymują ich jednak od świętego za darmo. Maluchy, a nawet starsze dzieci z pierwszych klas szkoły podstawowej muszą powiedzieć wierszyk, zaśpiewać piosenkę, a czasem odmówić krótką modlitwę, wówczas święty łaskawym okiem spogląda i przekazuje wyczekany prezencik. Jednak w ostatnich latach coraz częściej placówki, centra handlowe i ulice naszych miast i wsi nawiedzają „wyrośnięte krasnale” – brzuchate Mikołaje w czerwonych ubrankach, noszące się z „amerykańska”, próbujące wyprzeć Mikołaja w mitrze, w szatach biskupich… Śląskie tradycje są jednak na tyle silne, a rodzice i dziadkowie na tyle mądrzy, by nie dać się oszukać „podrabianym Mikołajkom”.

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W okolicach Pszczyny we wsi Łąka do dzisiaj w dniu 6 grudnia przechodzi barwny pochód zwany Mikołajami. Przebrani za Mikołaja chłopcy chodzą po wsi z korbaczem i nakazywali rzykać a dziewczętom wyjść za mąż. Grupa przebierańców składała się diabła, śmierci, kozy, baby, żyda. Korowód chodził od zagrody do zagrody śpiewając i tańcząc.

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Fêter Saint-Nicolas est aussi une tradition dans le Nord de la France. Les enfants des écoles reçoivent des oranges et une brioche en forme de Jésus.

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