December 4: Dark Brown Curls, Genial Face, Saint Nicholas

...It's dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air...

In most of the movie adaptations of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present (described in the passage above) looks like a Victorian Santa Claus, wrapped in a royal green robe and crowned with a holly wreath fringed with icicles.  The Ghost spreads goodwill and blessings everywhere he goes with Scrooge, although he gets around without a sleigh or flying reindeer.

December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day.  Nicholas was a bishop in what is now Turkey in the fourth century. He was known for his holiness and "abstemious" ways.  He was also known for his acts of generosity and charity.  In one legend, when Nicholas heard about a father who was struggling to support his three daughters.  At night, the bishop climbed to the roof of the father's house and threw three bags of gold down the chimney.

The Feast of Saint Nicholas was the precursor to our modern-day Christmas (before Church fathers moved the celebration of Christ's birth to the winter solstice).  In some countries, Saint Nicholas is still a pretty big deal.  Nicholas is the patron of children, bakers, and pawnbrokers.  Over the centuries, Saint Nicholas morphed into Santa Claus, the jolly old elf who delivers presents to the children of the world on Christmas Eve, climbing down chimneys and eating plates filled with homemade baked goods.

At my office, I have a coffee mug, even though I don't drink coffee.  On the mug is a picture of Santa Claus and two printed words:  "I believe."  My daughter is turning twelve tomorrow, and I'm sure she has her doubts about the Big Guy in red.  However, she humors me.  She still sets out a plate of cookies on Christmas Eve.  She still writes letters addressed to the North Pole.  She's not leaving anything up to chance.

For me, my coffee mug says it all.  I believe.  I believe in Christmas love and generosity and hope.  Hope for something better.  A world without war and poverty and need.  That's what the nativity story is all about.  And Santa Claus.  And Saint Nicholas.  And the Ghost of Christmas Present.  They're all about stepping out of darkness into light.

Saint Marty believes in that Light for the world.  Just ask his coffee mug.



I believe, just add cream and sugar