medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Phyllis and Brenda (variously) posted:
> Subject: Re: saints of the day 6. December
>
>> saints of the day 6. DecemberNicholas of Myra (Santa Claus) (d. c. 350) =
>> Boring modern saints' books say that all that is known of St. Nick is =
>> that he was bishop of Myria (Lycia) and that his relics were stolen and =
>> taken to Bari in 1087. Legend knows that he was much more interesting =
>> than that. He resurrected three boys who had been murdered and pickled =
>> in brine, and he gave three bags of gold as a dowry for a poor girl. =20
>
> Not quite. There were three girls. ..*.. the bags each fell into a shoe =
>belonging to each girl. This is why S.C. comes down the chimney and / or =
> why we hang up stockings or put out shoes. This is what I learned at my =
> grandmother's knee.
>
>> He is a patron of prisoners, sailors, pawnbrokers, and Russia.
>
Isn't St Nicholas also patron saint of children, schools, educational
establishments? He crops up in effigy on school buildings-- and Glasgow
still has a St Nicholas Street, just off High St opposite the original site
of the university.
Incidentally who is patron saint of teachers? He/she must be busy about now.
Pat
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