The legend of Santa Claus
There are many legends that talk about the deeds of Saint Nicholas after he became a priest. According to a legend, he helped three poor girls get married. He left a bag full of gold at the gate of their house, so that each girl would have a dowry and be able to get married. When it was the last girl’s turn, her father wanted to see who was bringing them the bags of gold and stood watch one night. Then, Santa Nicolae left the bag on the chimney of the house, in a sock that was left to dry, and thus the tradition of gifts placed in shoes appeared.
The three bags of gold became the symbol of Saint Nicholas, in the form of three golden balls. Nicolae also came to the aid of sailors and travelers. Another legend says that one day he was returning home by sea, coming from Jerusalem.
A strong storm started, and Nicolae prayed to God and then the storm suddenly stopped. The sailors on the ship considered this a miracle, and since then Saint Nicholas is also the protector of sailors and travelers.
Saint Nicholas, the miracle worker
In Romanian traditions, Saint Nicholas appears on a white horse, an allusion to the snow that falls in December, he guards the sun, which tries to take refuge beside him towards the northern lands to leave the world without light and warmth. He is the devil’s spy, he rules the waters, being the patron of the sailors he saves from drowning, he defends soldiers in war, which is why they invoke him during battles, he helps widows, orphans and poor girls who want to get married.
Saint Nicholas, celebrated on December 6, nicknamed “The Miracle Worker”, patron of Greece and other cities in Western Europe, is one of the most popular saints of Christianity. The Church of Saint George the New in Bucharest preserves the right hand of Saint Nicholas, given, according to the documents, by the Archdiocese of Bari to ruler Mihai Viteazu.