Saint Nicholas and the Twelve days of Christmas

Miran Perera

Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus is one of the most popular saints. There are many churches dedicated to St. Nicholas all over the world. In Sri Lanka there are several churches dedicated to St. Nicholas. The well-known among them are St. Nicholas Church at Bopitiya Pamunugama and St. Nicholas Munnakkara in Negombo.

Christmas is a festival that has a worldwide appeal. As Christ was born poor in a cow shed in Bethlehem Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas a benefactor of the poor who distribute gifts among children is a significant feature at Christmas.

The twelve days of Christmas are probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions.

Contrary to much popular belief these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in the Western church are the twelve days from Christmas until Epiphany its beginning.

The twelve days counts from December 25th until January 5. St. Nicholas or Santa Claus who is presented as an old jovial gentry with a long white beard wearing an identical red kit with a white boarder is the most welcome person for children at Christmas. They believe that Santa Claus bring gifts and toys for them on the Christmas eve. They eagerly and joyfully await his arrival.

In the Western church Epiphany is traditionally celebrated as the time the three wise men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus. In some cultures especially Hispanic and Latin American culture January 6th is observed as three Kings day.

Even though December 25 is celebrated as Christmas in these cultures, January 6th is the day for giving gifts. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts sometimes by Santa Claus for each of the twelve days of Christmas. In eastern orthodox traditions Christmas is actually celebrated on January 6th and Epiphany is January 19.

The legendary Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra a seaside town in the southern coast of Turkey.

He was born in the capital of Lysia in Asia minor in 270 AD. When Nicholas was a teenager his parents had died leaving him a large fortune. He decided to utilise his wealth to please God and secretly helped those in need. The popular song 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' is often seen as simply a nonsense song for children.

Actually it is a song of Christian instruction with hidden references to the basic teachings of the faith. Dating to the 16th century, religious wars in England it was a muemonic device to teach the catechism secretly to youngsters.

The true love mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor but refers to God himself. The 'Me' who receives the presents refers to every baptised person who is part of the Christian faith that was important for children to learn.

The symbol of Santa Claus who was a benefactor of the poor is often being derogated. In the present age of commercialisation and consumerism he is transformed into a sales agent. St. Nicholas also called Father Christmas is known by so many names.

He is called 'Sinter Klass' in Netherlands. In France he is known as 'Bohne Noel'. In Norway he is called 'Juliness', and in Germany as 'Kris Kurgle'. It is said that in 1870 the Americans gave him the most popular name 'Santa Claus' and in Sri Lanka he is called 'Naththal Pappa' the Sinhala version of the term Father Christmas'.

The most popular legend all over the world is that on the Christmas eve Santa Claus comes down through the chimney and fills stockings placed by children with toys and gifts.

The popular song the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' begins as;

- On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me... A partridge and a prayer tree - the partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the son of God whose Birthday we celebrate on December 25. In the song Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge.

- On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Two turtle doves - The old and new Testaments which together bear witness to God's self revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the story of God to the world.

- On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Three french hens - The three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love.

- On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me... four calling birds - The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

- On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Five gold rings - The five books of the old Testament, the Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

- On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Six geese a laying - The six's days of creation.

- On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Seven swans a swimming - The seven gifts of the holy Ghost including - Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, giving leading, and compassion.

- On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Eight maids a milking - The eight beatitudes of Blessed are (1) The poor in spirit (2) Those who mourn (3) The meek (4) Those who hunger and thirst (5) The Merciful (6) The pure in heart (7) Peace makers (8) Those who are persecuted

- On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me.. Nine ladies dancing - The nine fruits of the Holy spirit have, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and selfcontrol.

- On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... Ten lords a leaping - The Ten commandments.

- On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me .... Eleven Pipers piping - The eleven Apostles.

- On the twelveth day of Christmas my true love gave to me.... The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles creed.

Thus goes the song titled the twelve days of Christmas. The line quoted below are from a poem called 'A visit from St. Nicholas written by Clement C. More to describe the mocturnal visit of a benevolent embodiment of Christmas.

'He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot, his eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry, he was chubby and plump, a right jolly self.

Although penned in 1822 the poem did not become well known until it was depicted in a series of engravings by Thomas Nast in the 1860's. This gave a near real description of Santa Claus. By the Edwardian period it was almost universally accepted as the definitive description of this important representative of Christmas. There were several forerunners to Santa claus.

The Norse God odin was one of the early figures who were a blue hooded cloak and a long white beard. Santa Claus begins to appear by the end of November and one could find him everywhere during the Christmas season. Now St. Nicholas or Santa Claus is no more a saint in the Catholic Church.

In 1970 he was removed from the communion of saints along with St. George, St. Christopher and St. Philomena on ground that they were merely legendary figures. Santa Claus has now become an integral part of Christmas and his ghost will live forever during the Christmas season. After his death he continued to be present all over the world popularly known as Santa Claus.

He is believed to have died on December 6th and the feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated on this day. After the 12 days of Christmas the 12th night on 6th January has been celebrated as the end of Christmas, with the Epiphany.

This was the night on which Christ the child was manifested to the Gentiles. During the 18th and 19th centuries 12th night parties were popular with a special cake for it. Although the song '12 days of Christmas is not often heard its meaning remain very important at Christmas.