The story of Santa Claus’s namesake.
Ted Olsen
December 6 marks Saint Nicholas Day, and I thought I’d mark the beginning of the Christmas season by telling the story of Santa Claus’s namesake. But before I do, I should remark that, historically speaking, there’s not much we really know about Nicholas. Though he’s one of the most popular saints in the Greek and Latin churches, his existence isn’t attested by any historical document. All we can say is that he was probably the bishop of Myra (near modern Finike, Turkey) sometime in the 300s.
That said, there are of course many legends about Nicholas, and since these have influenced people throughout history, and they likely illustrate something about the historical man, they are fair game for a publication, like ours, devoted to Christian history.
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STUDENT LOCK-IN on Friday, December 31. Starting @ 7 PM with pickup at 8 AM on Saturday, January 1. Enjoy Pizza, Games, Movies, etc. Students will need to bring sleeping bags, pillows, cover, etc. Ages 12-18. For more info contact Tim Langdon.
If you’re addicted to a holiday high that ends with you in the dumps, try these ideas.
Kimberly D. Malkogainnis
Start close to home
Get on your knees with your family, and covenant with God to simplify your life. Determine to glorify and worship your external Lord rather than the holiday myth of overworking yourself into exhaustion for a “perfect” Christmas season.
Ask family members which traditions they most want to continue, and ask them to give something in exchange. If your daughter craves homemade cookies, ask her to do the vacuuming or errands to free your time and energy to help her bake. If your family needs a decorated evergreen to make them feel jolly, ask them to take over; explain that your job will be taking snapshots or video of the activity. If they’re too young to pitch in, you’re fortunate, because you can start them off with simpler traditions.
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