Nicolas

Nicolas, ST, the patron saint of Russia, whose life is wrapped in an obscurity that is but little lightened by fable. He was bishop of Myra in Lycia, and according to Metaphrastes was imprisoned under Diocletian and released under Constantine. The statement that he was present at the Council of Nice is in the highest degree improbable. His supposed relics were conveyed from the East to Bari, in the kingdom of Naples, on 9th May 1087; and it is a curious fact that in the Russian Church the anniversary of this translation is still observed as a festival. In Catholic countries St Nicolas is especially the patron of the young, and particularly of scholars. In England his feast was celebrated in ancient times with great solemnity in the public schools, Eton, Sarum Cathedral, and elsewhere; and still in Germany on the vigil of his feast, which is held on the 6th December, a person in the appearance and costume of a bishop assembles the children of a family or of a school, and distributes among them, to the good children, gilt nuts, sweetmeats, and other little presents, as the reward of good conduct; to the naughty ones, the redoubtable punishment of the 'Klaubauf.' Santa Claus is a corruption of the name, introduced into England from America; the old Dutch settlers of New York kept a San Claus holiday. St Nicolas was also the patron of merchants, sailors, and travellers; and as he was prayed to for protection against robbers, the term 'Clerks of St Nicolas' came, oddly enough, to be a cant name for robbers.