A Jolly Good Tradition

Saint Nicholas spoke out against heresies and was imprisoned for a time for his Christian beliefs. His faithfulness is exemplary, but charity remains his signature virtue. What started with Nicholas tossing a few bags of coins into a poor family’s yard has been transformed over centuries of retelling, embellishing, grafting, and adapting into the magical tales of Ole Saint Nick (Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Kris Kringle), whose yearly ambition is to deliver gifts to every girl and boy. We may not bring out our best robes and a fatted calf for the annual return of Santa, but cookies and milk serve nicely to show our gratitude to Saint Nick for inspiring ole souls of every stripe to be more jolly and generous.