The Feast of Saint Nicholas | Bethlehem Handicrafts

The Feast of Saint Nicholas | Bethlehem Handicrafts

The Feast of Saint Nicholas, which is also called Saint Nicholas Day, is celebrated on 6 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern countries. It is the feast day of Nicholas of Myra with special focus on his reputation as the saint of brings gifts.

The whimsical story of a cheerful stout man in red giving presents during Christmas is based after German and Dutch conventions of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra-Lykia, a previously Greek district of modern-day Turkey. Saint Nicholas was a monk born in the late third century AD who surrendered his physical fortune looking for an heavenly one.
Right before the Emperor Constantine pronounced that Christians could openly practice their Christian faith in the Roman Empire, Saint Nicholas went on journey to the Holy Land, remaining in Jerusalem and a hillside close to Bethlehem that overlooked the cave of the birthplace of Jesus.
It is here that a monastery would be built around the cave that Saint Nicholas remained in during his time in the Holy Land, and here that the town of Beit Jala would be established. Contrary to the legend, Beit Jala was the home of Saint Nicholas in the Holy Land.
Olive Wood Nativity Scenes / Nativity Sets

After Saint Nicholas got back to his home a couple of years later, he became a Bishop, which obviously implied that he would wear the brightly-colored robes and ceremonial hat of a Bishop, and a staff symbolic of his office as “Good Shepherd” of Christians. He likewise got known for his liberal blessing giving, remembering an uncommon situation for which he gave three bundles of gold to a devastated widowed dad to spare his little girls from a life of destitution and dishonor.

The brilliant story of the real Saint Nicholas offered ascend to the amazing “Saint Nick” or “Sinterklaas” of German and Dutch custom, which thus offered ascend to the story of Santa Claus, who like a customary Bishop, wears ceremonial red clothes and hat, holds a staff, and is a bearded, grandfatherly figure. Some even affirm that the legend of Santa Claus descending the stack of family homes to offer presents to kids started with the genuine story of the three packs of gold given to the dad by letting the present fall down his fireplace!

The people of Beit Jala observe Saint Nicholas Day on December nineteenth, with extraordinary display. During a church service, people descend to the lower level of the church, where the cave of Saint Nicholas can be entered, and light candles and give oil in thanks to Saint Nicholas, or to ask for his blessing in their lives and on their families.

The people of the town partake in a modest happy festive parade led by their Scout troops, and return home to celebrate with fish dinners, as most are in a period of fasting before Christmas. Christians all through the town of Beit Jala are likewise glad to share accounts of supernatural occurrences that Saint Nicholas, or “Mar Nicola” as he is privately called, have made in their lives.

So this Christmas, as the kids in your family, parish or community are caught up with waiting for Saint Nicholas to come, recall that indeed, there is a Santa Claus, and he has an extraordinary association with the Holy Land!

More facts you didn't know about Santa:

Bethlehem Handicrafts wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with health, joy, and happiness!


We, the Bethlehem Handicrafts’ team, are so proud to put the Holy Land in your hand by giving you a variety of the best and the most outstanding original Bethlehem’s olive wood carvings with the best quality made in the Holy Land.

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