Preparation for the Pole's Card
There are many legends and myths associated with the personality of St. Nicholas and only a couple of historical facts that have come down to us since the 3rd century AD. Most sources indicate that Saint Nicholas was born into a wealthy family near Patara, in western Lycia (now the territory of modern Turkey). Having inherited a huge fortune, Saint Nicholas distributed it to the poor and orphans.

In 300 BC. Nicholas became a bishop and began to govern the abandoned diocese of Myra. There he was famous for his holiness and miracles. At the beginning of the fourth century, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, persecution of Christians spread throughout the Roman Empire, and St. Nicholas was imprisoned and forced to leave the diocese. It was not until 313, when Emperor Constantine reaffirmed Christianity, that Nicholas was released and allowed to return to his diocese.

After the death of Saint Nicholas, in the fourth century, during the time of Justinian, a basilica was built in Constantinople in honor of Bishop Nicholas, who at that time was one of the most revered saints of the Eastern Church.

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of: young children, judges, lawyers, notaries, bakers, confectioners, sailors, pilgrims, travelers, artisans, the poor, prisoners, widows, orphans, girls of easy virtue. In some countries he is also considered the patron saint of happily married couples. Over time, he became the patron saint of sailors, fishermen and sea traders, for whom he ensured safety at sea and a happy return to port.

Saint Nicholas is famous all over the world. In the USA - Santa Claus, in Italy - San Nicola, Sankt Nikolaus in Germany, Pyhän Nikolauksen in Finland. Everywhere Saint Nicholas is associated with a benefactor who gives gifts to everyone (especially children). And the legend about such a Saint is passed down from generation to generation.

Why is Saint Nicholas considered the patron saint of harlots?
The custom of giving gifts for St. Nicholas stems from medieval legends about his life. Saint Nicholas became very popular thanks to the 10th century performances on December 6th. The most famous was the story of the three daughters, written in the first half of the 9th century in Constantinople by Archimandrite Michael.

According to her, young Nicholas, even before his election as a bishop, had a greedy, rich neighbor who mocked him. God punished the neighbor and he lost his fortune and fell into extreme poverty. When he had no more money, he decided to sell his three daughters to a brothel because no one wanted to marry them without a suitable dowry. After much thought, reading the Holy Scriptures and prayer, Nicholas decided to save the virtue of the girls. Three times, under the cover of darkness, he gave out money for a dowry for each sister. When the neighbor had already married off his two daughters, he decided to find out where the mysterious money came from. He didn't sleep all night and kept watch at the window. The neighbor was amazed to find Nikolai, whom he despised, throwing money through the window for the third time. The neighbor, embarrassed by his behavior, thanked Nikolai and decided to change his life and live according to the commandments.

We don’t know for sure whether such a person actually existed or whether the legend about him was invented for another purpose. But the very idea of the existence of St. Nicholas is impeccable. Regardless of when and how it appeared, the legend of the good-natured St. Nicholas continues to teach children to share with others and be polite, and this is probably why it has been alive for more than 17 centuries.

In modern Poland and the USA, on the night of December 5-6, children expect sweets and gifts under their pillow, in their shoes or in a specially hung large sock.

From childhood we learn to be kind, because we know that kindness will return to us. But in adult life, we forget that sometimes it’s enough just to smile at a person walking down the street, wait for a neighbor and hold the door for him, say a compliment to your colleague at work, hug your loved ones for no reason, for a small miracle to happen.

And it doesn't really matter whether any legends about St. Nicholas are convincing or whether we believe them. We must remember one thing: kindness and selflessness are always priceless.