“It’s good to give,
And have only God know about it.”
Mikolaj
As a child in a big Polish family
December 6th was always a big day
“Edju, never forget about Mikolaj!”
My beloved grandmother would say
And when I would awaken on this day
I’d always find a little gift under the tree
It was usually just an apple or a few cookies
But this Mikolaj Day always filled me with glee
Mikolaj lived in the 4th Century in old Myra
An ancient seaport on the Mediterranean Sea
He came from an extremely noble, wealthy family
But he never believed he was better than the peasantry
It’s said that one day he heard about a destitute father
Who was contemplating selling his daughter into slavery
So Mikolaj crept to this man’s house in the middle of the night
And tossed a bag of gold through the window to keep the girl free
This poor man fell to his knees and thanked God for this miracle
From his fatherly eyes, now fell many tears of gratitude and joy
Mikolaj also loved giving out lots of toys and candies and cookies
To children of poor families, delighting so many young girls and boys
When the elderly Bishop in the ancient seaport city of Myra passed away
The priests had a dream in which God told them who would be the new one
He told them to anoint the next person coming through the door of the cathedral
And would you believe - it was Mikolaj – his new reign as Bishop had now begun
Some say that old Bishop Mikolaj of Myra was truly the real Santa Claus
You may have heard of this historical figure referred to as Saint Nicholas
I probably won’t ever forget my grandmother’s many stories about him
To this day, December 6th, his Feast Day, always brings me nostalgic bliss
And our Christmas tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace
May have also resulted from Mikolaj tossing gold in that window
Some say his generous gift to that father in the middle of the night
Landed in the man’s socks by the fireplace, how I love that story so
“Edju, never forget about Mikolaj!”
And I never have.
The music playing
Is one of my grandmother’s favorite old
Polish Christmas Carols:
Lulajze Jezuniu (Lullaby to Jesus)
©2007, Mr. Ed
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Tiger Lily
Love,
annie
Be safe,
Karen
Love Tinky
Carole~
Fee
Newfie Hugs, Rose
For telling and sharing...dziekowac!!!
Georg
POLSKI - I was Polish by INJECTION for 34 years, and exposed to many of their cultural traditions, like: taking a basket of food to church for an Easter Blessing - hanging a small crucifix on the door jamb, and pasting a KISS upon it when entering or leaving - opening Xmas presents on the EVE, rather than the DAY of - and more...
But, never heard of THIS one! Her Father, Polish, but from Prussia, was called Jaju (sp.?)
for Grandfather, I think? and Bushia ? for Grandmother?
Will now screw up spelling, and try to do this PHONETICALLY ...
"Wesolwic Sveunt Boshegia Naradzenia" U got a clue? Tom.
(profit!)
He is from Myra, as you said, which is in Turkey today (nowhere near the North Pole!). I visited his church, a wonderful place, still intact. His remains were stolen from that church by Italians, commissioned by the religious authorities of the city of Bari. This was to get more people to visit their city (yes, already tourism, again, profit!) and a whole miracle was invented around him, by pouring some oil into his grave, then collecting it during a ritual. This led to the decomposition of part of the bones, although his skull and other bones remain intact. This has allowed the recent computerized reconstitution of his features. He was a tall and strong man, with a long, bony face.
He had a dark complexion and a prominent forehead. Signs of a fracture on his skull and nose confirm and old legend according to which he freed some Christians who were going to be executed and one of the guards stroke him with his broadsword. He was indeed a good man, yet strong, quite aggressive and temperamental!
Interesting to have learned of the importance of the Polish legend.
Thank you.
Axilea
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :D
Blessings and love!
Susan
Larry
Christine
Walt
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.