In some parts of Italy the feast of San Nicola, patron saint of Bari, ushers in the Christmas season (stagione natalizia) with the giving of gifts (regali) on the eve or morning of December 6, his onomastico (name’s day). Although many stories of San Nicola’ s life may be mythical, he did inspire the figure of a beloved old man—whether he’s known as Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) or Santa Claus—who gives out presents in December.
The son of a wealthy Christian family, San Nicola grew up in a Greek-speaking colony of the Roman Empire (now part of Turkey) and became bishop (vescovo) of the city of Myra. In addition to saving a sailor from drowning during a voyage to Egypt, Nicola also reportedly restored three murdered children to life. And so he became the patron saint (patrono) of sailors (marinai) and children (bambini).
In the most famous legend about the saint, an impoverished man in his diocese couldn’t afford dowries for his three daughters, which meant they would never find husbands. With no money to feed and clothe the girls, the desperate father was planning to sell them into prostitution.
On three separate occasions, Nicola, who had inherited a fortune, tossed a sack of gold down the family’s chimney (camino). The coins landed in socks and shoes (calze e scarpe) left to dry by the fire, inspiring a Christmas Eve tradition. As word of his generosity spread, any anonymous gift was attributed to the kindly bishop.
When San Nicola died of old age (a rarity at the time) in 343, his bones (ossa) were placed in the cathedral of Myra, which became a popular pilgrimage destination. After the Turks conquered the city in 1087, sailors from Bari, racing against Venetian sailors with the same intent, rescued the saint’s remains and brought them to rest in their home town in southern Italy.
Bari’s fedeli (worshipers, believers) built an enormous basilica over the reliquie del santo (saint’s relics), which reportedly produce a clear liquid called Manna with mysterious healing powers. Every year a three-day festival celebrates the arrival of the sacred relics in Bari and the collection of the holy Manna on May 8.
Over the centuries San Nicola inspired the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas (from a shortened version of Nicola’s name in Dutch), which emigrants carried to North America. When the British took over the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which later became New York City, they also adopted the tradition of the gift-giving Sinterklaas. However, they mispronounced the Dutch name, and so Sinterklaas became Santa Claus.
Today’s chubby, red-suited, white-bearded American Santa Claus may bear little physical resemblance to San Nicola di Bari. But both figures share a generosity of spirit (generosità di spirito) and love of children (eterno amore per i bambini) that remain timeless.
Words and Expressions
santità -– saintliness
festa del santo –- saint’s day
santino -– little holy picture reproducing the image of a saint and a prayer.
santificare le feste –- to observe the holy festivities.
santo martire –- martyred saint
Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA, My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language.
If you're not yet in the Christmas mood, click below, and you soon will be.
I especially loved the video with the Santas in the gondola! Thanks for the history lesson about Santa, which I had never heard. I would love to spend a Christmas holiday in Italy. So much of our lives in the US are influenced by Italian contributions. Check out the book, "The Golden Milestone" by Russell Espositio. It describes 2500 years of Italian contributions to Civilization. Buon Natale!
Posted by: Lenora Boyle | December 06, 2011 at 07:34 AM
I have just published my post about La Bella Lingua.
Posted by: LindyLouMac | December 10, 2009 at 09:08 AM
My husband has a fascination with San Nicola, so we have visited many churches dedicated to the benificent saint all around Italy, including the beautiful basilica in Bari, of course! Thanks for the story behind Santa Claus!
Posted by: Valerie | December 08, 2009 at 06:39 AM
Of course, I don't mind. Thanks so much for your kind words, and I hope you enjoy LA BELLA LINGUA! Dianne
Posted by: dianne | December 06, 2009 at 05:24 PM
I look forward to reading and enjoying your month of festive blog posts.
I have at long last received my copy of La Bella Lingua and am really pleased. I plan to make the long wait for delivery part of a blog post and I assume you will be ok with me doing a link to your website, which I find so useful. Let me know if you would prefer me not to do so! Thanks.
Posted by: LindyLouMac | December 05, 2009 at 04:00 AM