Saint Nicholas leaves under your pillow gift

Waking your baby finds under your pillow chocolate and soft toy... What is this miracle? Of course, the feast of St. Nicholas! Who is Saint Nicholas? Recall that the legends say that St. Nicholas is the patron of agriculture, Commerce, navigation, travelers, and defender of the poor people and children. All Christians the world celebrate this day: Catholics - 6 December, and Orthodox - 19 December. Parents, and the believers, and not really need to prepare for the holiday to purchase holiday shoes, socks, and, most importantly, gifts.


The tradition to celebrate the day of St. Nicholas and to give gifts to children, began in Germany. So at the Cologne Cathedral in X century the feast day of Saint Nicholas, boys and girls of the parish schools began to hand out sweets.




And then in the homes of the country began to hang socks or shoes for St. Nicholas was able to put there kids gifts. New and bright tradition quickly went throughout Europe.





Customs and traditions


According to the Ukrainian customs and traditions, Nicholas comes to the children with gifts and sweets during the night from 18 to 19 December. By the way, in Western Ukraine for the gifts of the Holy. Nicholas put on the windowsill shoes. But in the East the kids are accustomed to look for gifts from Nicholas under the pillows. By the way, gifts and sweets on this day receive only obedient children.




There is a legend that St. Nicholas before the feast all day working. He bakes cookies-stars as a gift for the kiddies. Such cookies kids can also find under the pillow in the morning, it is called cookies-Nicolaitane.






This day also has pedagogical sense - there is a moment of encouragement, a pedagogical method, the advance payment, the incentive for the child tried to be better. So how is that a good children Nicholas brings sweets and gifts, but bad - rod and salt. So even the most unruly children will reflect on their behavior in anticipation of the holiday.






By the way, St. Nicholas day is an important day not only for children. Earlier in Ukraine from this day on, the young people began to prepare for the marriage, Yuletide and the noctule bat. Young girls wove her dowry, sewed various outfits, made costumes and masks for a fun Christmas entertainment.




By the way, was pleased to Saint Nicholas in this day sprinkling stables, houses and livestock Holy water.




I advise you to remember another important belief: if a festive night at Nicholas you make a wish, it will come true, or rather, Saint Nicholas will do.




About Saint Nicholas...




Legends and Church chronicle says that St. Nicholas, unlike Santa Claus, the real person who received the Saint in San appreciation for the committed them good and uncompensated case.




According to legend, the Wonderworker was born in the city of Patara, Asia Minor, in the family of the righteous and noble parents. Nicholas different compassion and great love for people, helping the disadvantaged and the poor, wasting all his money to a good cause, leaving only the most necessary. For this kindness and gentleness, he loved all people who knew him.




According to legends, once Nicholas from the old servants learned that one beautiful, but the poor girl can not marry a nice rich guy. And all because she simply has no dowry. Nicholas immediately thought, "But I have all. And somewhere people suffer...". Then Nicholas took the required amount and at night, wrapped in a dark cloak, so no one recognized him, quietly made his way to the home of the poor girl. Further - Nikolai just gave her a bundle of money in the box.




In the morning the city was rumored that love helped an angel from heaven. The parents of the guy immediately agreed to the wedding, and the young man the first time I felt truly happy.




They say that once before him the doors of the Church themselves opened, that the Lord chose him to do the works of light.




Nicholas decided to dedicate his life to God and therefore became a priest and then a Bishop of Myra. One of their cases that came to us, speaks of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, when Nicholas prayer could calm the raging sea.




Were in the fate of Nicholas and quite difficult moments - the times of persecution against Christians. At this time Nicholas was in prison, where he spent eight years. But, even there, despite the torture and suffering, he continued to preach to the people to Christianity.




Survived Nicholas until his old age, having devoted his whole life to his altruistic deeds. Died St. Nicholas in December of 334. After the death of Nicholas recognized saints. Church leaders canonized Nicholas and now you can find its icon in many churches and temples.




It is also known that in 866, in honor of St. Nicholas was baptized Askold, the Prince of Kiev. Also in Kiev over the grave of Askold Holy Princess Olga has built a temple in honor of Saint Nicholas, the first in Russia.

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