It's Saint Nicholas Day!

Today (December 6) is the feast of St. Nicholas,
    friend of the poor and giver of gifts...

Saint Nicholas (the fourth century bishop of Myra, a province of Asia Minor) is the subject of many legends, including being the man behind "Santa's" beard.  The red-vested cleric also enjoys the lead in Benjamin Britten's cantata, Saint Nicholas, the lyrics of which tell the life and legends of Nicholas, all of which you can read about and listen to here.

Hagiographical research reveals that St. Nicholas is the patron saint of:

Apothecaries, Bakers, Barrel Makers, Boatmen, Boot Blacks, Boys, Brewers, Brides, Captives, Children, Coopers, Dock Workers, Druggists, Fishermen, Greece, the Greek Catholic Church in America, Grooms, Judges, Lawsuits lost unjustly, Longshoremen, Maidens, Mariners, Merchants, Murderers, Newlyweds, Parish Clerks, Paupers, Pawnbrokers, Perfumers, Pharmacists, Pilgrims, Poor people, Portsmouth - England, Prisoners, Russia, Sailors, Scholars, Schoolchildren, Shoe Shiners, Sicily, Students, Thieves, Travelers, and Unmarried girls!

In some countries December 6 is the day for gift-giving, not December 25. So you might want to surprise a family member, a friend - or someone in need - with a gift today.

Lord, while shopping for gifts for family and friends,
while putting up decorations and going to parties,
keep me mindful of your humble birth
and the claim of the poor on the bounty that's mine...

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