One cold morning in early December we woke up to find our shoes sitting by the front door – each with a little baggie filled with candy. When we asked Mom – she told us the story of Saint Nicholas. Some countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 5. Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on Sunday, December 6, 2020. Legend has it that his habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus (“Saint Nick”).

In one of the earliest attested and most famous incidents from his life, he is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them. He was known as the patron Saint of both children and prostitutes.