History Spotlight The 4th-century Saint Nicholas
We Need a Little Christmas! Written by Doug Humes Photos are from public domain
One of the earliest versions of Thomas Nast’s Santa illustrations
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nglish-speaking residents have been celebrating Christmas in Marple since its founding in 1681. But those early settlers would not recognize the holiday we celebrate today. In fact, early 18th-century Quakers treated the day much like every other day except the Sabbath. A 1749 visitor noted: The Quakers did not regard this day any more remarkable than other days. Stores were open, and anyone might sell or purchase what he wanted. …There was no more baking of bread for the Christmas festival than for other days; and no Christmas porridge on Christmas Eve! One did not seem to know what it meant to wish anyone a Merry Christmas. Oddly enough, part of our Christmas tradition grew out of the generosity of a rich man in 4th-century Turkey. Hearing that a certain single woman could not attract suitable marriage prospects because she had no dowry to offer, the man secretly dropped a bag of gold down the family chimney one night, and the bag got caught in a stocking that had been hung up to dry in the fireplace. Repeated gifts from this man led to his recognition as a saint, St. Nicholas.
Over the years, strands of the Greek Saint Nicholas, the English Father Christmas, and the Dutch Sinterklaas were woven together. In 1823, the poet Clement Clarke Moore gave us the timeless story A Visit from St. Nicholas, and a whole host of Christmas icons: Santa, the airborne sleigh, the flying reindeer, landing on the roof on Christmas Eve, dropping down
HOW CAN YOU MAKE A VISIT TO FREDDY’S
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