Feast of St. Nicholas: date, history and traditions

We are all well aware of the holiday of Nicholas the Wonderworker. Ever since childhood, we know that on this day all obedient kids receive gifts that the saint leaves under a pillow or in shoes. At the same time, not everyone is aware of who Nikolai Chudotvorets was, what he did, what traditions are associated with his name in different countries and beliefs.

Commemoration Day of St. Nicholas

In Slavic countries it is customary to celebrate the holiday of Nicholas the Wonderworker on December 19. The most interesting and memorable moment of a significant date (especially for children) is the arrival at night of a fairy-tale character, which puts babies near the bed, shoes or specially prepared decorated socks.

It is interesting to know, where did this tradition come from and whether the feast of Nicholas the Wonderworker has historical roots? In fact, there was such a story in the life of a saint: in the next house with him lived a poor family, the woman died early, and the man remained a widower, but he had a beautiful young daughter who loved a guy from a rich family. The wealthy parents of the young man did not accept the poor girl without a dowry. Nicholas decided to help the beauty, because he had an inheritance from his parents. Then he changed his clothes so that no one could recognize him. Approaching the poor house at night, he threw a bag of gold money into the window of the room. So, the saint helped two beloved hearts to unite. From this, Nicholas himself was incredibly happy.

Then the Wonderworker began to walk around the city and bring the poor clothes, food and toys. He always did it at night, but the villagers still tracked him down and were very surprised that a modest guy brings unselfish good to people. A little later Nicholas was elected bishop.

Life of the saint

The life of Nicholas the Wonderworker is not at all shrouded in legends. This saint was a real historical personality. It is believed that he was born in 270 AD. E. And lived until the year 345. Nicholas the Wonderworker's parents were very pious and wealthy people: Theophanes and Nona. He was the only child in the family. His parents constantly prayed, because for a long time they had no children at all. When the baby appeared in their family, they promised God that the life of Nicholas would be dedicated to worship, faith and religion. Everything happened not as it was intended, because the boy was an orphan. The life of Nicholas the Wonderworker at that time was marked by the fact that he began to live away from people, like a hermit. The man was completely engaged in scientific activity.

Nicholas the Wonderworker was among the bishops participating in the first Ecumenical Christian Council in 325 AD. He performed many holy deeds and wonderful things:

• When three military commanders were slandered, Nicholas saved them from death;
• Prevented the severe famine of the inhabitants of his native city under the name of the World;
• He not once saved from the misfortunes and hunger of people on the water and on land.

Nikolai died when he was 75 years old. After this, his relics began to emit a fragrance of medicinal substance, which greatly exalted him and glorified him. Very recently, in 2009, based on X-ray images and cranioscopy, scientists were able to describe the features of a saint. It was determined that this was a man of short stature (about 1 meter 68 centimeters) with a high forehead, prominent cheekbones and chin, he had brown eyes and a swarthy skin.

What helps Nicholas the Wonderworker?

During his life, many holy actions and miracles were performed by Nicholas the Wonderworker. What does it help us, ordinary people? It is believed that the saint is the protector and benefactor of the poor common people and children, as well as those engaged in navigation and trade. There is a story that once Nikolai was able to resurrect a simple navigator who fell from a ship in one of his campaigns during a storm and crashed to death. In the people it is believed that St.. Nicholas the Wonderworker helps not only sailors, but also the military, ordinary workers, peasants. As folk wisdom says: "Nicholas will save and at sea, Nicholas and the peasant will help to raise it."

Saint Nicholas helps people:

1. Get rid of evil thoughts and unkind intentions.
2. Find and create a harmonious relationship with the second half.
3. Bond marriage, keep the happiness and love of married life.
4. It also helps those who have been innocently convicted and sentenced.

In desperate situations people are supported by Nicholas the Wonderworker. What helps it more and in what cases can I apply to it? The saint will support, if a simple person has difficult situations in life and material problems. Girls who are not yet married, ask him about a successful future marriage. Women who are already bonded pray for mutual understanding and love with her husband. People, whose profession is connected with a dangerous road (drivers, sailors, travelers, etc.), turn to the saint to be lucky, the danger has passed.

Power

After the death of Nicholas the Miracle-Worker in 345, his relics became incorruptible and were in one of the churches of his native city of the World. As already mentioned, they began to pour out the fragrance of the healing substance. His miracle healed many believers from a variety of ailments. In the eleventh century there were military raids on Byzantium: they tried to plunder and defile the relics of the saint. Then the believing Christians decided to save them and moved them to the city of Bari (Italy), where they are still. Nowadays anyone can pray near them and ask for healing of diseases. May 22, Orthodox believers celebrate the spring feast of St. Nicholas in honor of the transfer of the relics of the Miracle-worker.

Worship of the Russian people to the saint

He began to worship after the Baptism of Rus. The first icons and prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared only at the end of the eleventh century. Despite this, in Russia there was a large number of churches and temples dedicated to him. In Kiev, St. Olga over the tomb of Askold erected the Church of St. Nicholas, which was the first on the whole Russian land. Today, one of the towers of the Kremlin bears the name of Nikolskaya.

The feast day of the saint is December 19. The holiday falls on Christmas (Filippov) post, so this day you can eat fish, but eggs and meat can not be eaten. Everyone can turn to the saint with a request. The first prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker asks for help in a dull and real life, about the remission of sins by deed, in a word, by thought and all senses, about getting rid of airy ordeals and eternal torment. In the second prayer, the saint people glorify him, they call him the hope of Christians, the defender, the keeper, the fun of the crying, the doctor of the sick, ask for peaceful life. In the third prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker, people praise him, speaking of the salvation of souls and bodies from the anger of living people.

The history of the day of Nicholas the Wonderworker

It is generally accepted and known to everyone that December 19 is the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It is celebrated on the day of the saint's death. But he is also revered and May 22 - this is the day when his relics were transported to the Italian city of Bari. These two months (May and December) are chosen for good, after all, both are important for farmers. As our ancestors said: "One Nikolai pleases with grass, the other with frosts."

The day of St. Nicholas in December and May is celebrated according to the legend of the peasant.

Once a simple peasant rode along a country road, and he stuck his cart in mud. The cart was very heavy: the peasant could not pull it alone. Just at this time the saints went to God. One of them, Kasyan, passed by a man with a cart. Then the peasant asked for help. Kasyan was offended that he was disturbed because of such trifles. In clean, beautiful clothes, he passed by the peasant. Then St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The man also asked him for help. Saint without hesitation helped the peasant. Together they pulled the cart out of the mud. Only Nikolai was all smeared.

All the saints of God gathered themselves together. He began to ask them: why was Nicholas so late, because of what all his clothes are smeared in the mud? Nicholas the Wonderworker told then what story happened to him along the way. God then asked Kasyan why he did not help the peasant and walked past him? He replied that he could not be late for a meeting with God and come in dirty clothes. Then the Most High said that the holiday of St. Kasyan will be celebrated only once in 4 years - on February 29. Simultaneously , St. Nicholas Day will be celebrated 2 times a year - in May and December. After all, he helps ordinary people without hesitation, let him read and praise him.

Signs and beliefs of the winter Saint Nicholas Day

Special beliefs are inherent in the holiday, which is celebrated on December 19 (Nikolai Chudotvorets). Signs were known to our ancestors:

• After the day of Nicholas in the winter, girls and boys began to prepare for the festivities and sewed costumes for the carols.
• There is a belief that it is on December 19 that the first strong frosts begin.
• There is also such a sign: what is the weather on December 19, the same should be expected on May 22.
• If the road to winter Nikolay completely covered with snow, the winter will be frosty and snowy.
• A lot of frost foreshadowed a good harvest season and autumn.
• The day of St Nicholas the Wonderworker was considered the last day of December 19, when it was necessary to distribute all his debts. In addition, it was considered the beginning of grain trades.

Summer holiday

Since May 22, the day of the summer Saint Nicholas, there are also many beliefs:

1. It was believed that after May 22, you can already sell all the remaining stocks of grain from last year.
2. On Nicholas, the whole yard and the farm should be the first to bypass the owner, so that there is no trouble and unhappiness in the house.
3. The feast of Nicholas the Wonderworker is famous for its fragrant pies and beer drinks. On this day, all the villagers made money, brewed beer and went to church to pray, put a candle for a rich harvest. Then they treated each other to beer, burbot, pies, went around the village, sang cheerful songs. All that remained after the festivities was distributed to poor people.
4. They said: "On the day of St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker call the friend and the enemy - all will be friends." After all, on May 22, it was easy to find a common language even with the enemy.

Divination

Divination on the day of Nicholas the Wonderworker among young girls and boys was popular, as on the days before Christmas. But we must also mention that the feast, dedicated to the memory of the saint, is not very suitable for such rituals. Despite this, young people actively pursue the following rites:

• Guessing on the betrothed. An unmarried girl had to go out into the yard and take off her boot from her left foot, then throw him by the gate. Then you need to watch how the shoe falls: in which direction his sock looks, from there and you need to wait for the guy who will soon come to woo. If the boot falls with a toe to the girl's house, then this does not herald marriage in the coming year. It is necessary to see also how far the shoes left from the yard. If she lies far from the fence, the girl will have a long journey after the wedding.
• Guessing at the wedding with a sprouted bulb. For this purpose three unmarried girls gathered on the eve of the holiday, each of them took 1 head of a vegetable. They marked each of their bulbs, put them in the ground or put them in the water. Whose bulb sprouted on the feast of Nicholas the Wonderworker, that of the first girls was to be married.

Interesting Facts

Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in Greece. But he is revered by people of Orthodox and Catholic faith, even Muslims and pagans believe in the power of his help. His popularity is explained by the fact that Nicholas the Wonderworker is the simplest of all saints and closest to the common people, and also quickly fulfills requests and prayers.

There are different icons of the Wonderworker. The faces of the winter Nicholas correspond to the December celebration, and the image of the spring one to the May celebration. In this winter Nikolai is depicted on the icons in the headdress worn by the bishops, and the summer - with the crown uncovered. There is a legend: the Russian Tsar Nicholas the first drew attention to the fact that the saint is painted on an icon without a cap, after which he made a comment to the clergyman. Since then, the mistake has been corrected.

It is also believed that Nicholas the Wonderworker served as a prototype for the creation of modern Santa Claus. People in Western Europe believe that he delivers presents with the donkey, so children leave not only a decorative sock or a shoe, but also a few carrots, so that the animal can refresh and go on.

Congratulatory words on St. Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is worshiped, he is worshiped by the Slavic peoples. Therefore, congratulations on the day of Nicholas the Wonder-worker are as important as prayer and observance of traditions.

Congratulate on this day, relatives and friends can be in verses and simple words, the main thing is that they radiate warmth, kindness and thanksgiving to the saint. You can use such congratulations on the day of Nicholas the Wonderworker:

• Let the feast of Nicholas
  Love and joy enter the house.
  Let the children give gifts to the saints
  In socks will bring.
  And adults - have more patience
  And a good mood.
  
  
• Let the feast of Nicholas
  Gives everyone a smile,
  Fill the house with laughter.
  And let the children frolic
  And have fun in it.

Congratulate your family and friends you can and in your own words: "Happy St. Nicholas Day! I wish that today, and all year long, peace, comfort and warmth reign in the house. Relatives and loved ones to warm you with their love! "

Saint Nicholas is considered the main protector of children. From time immemorial on this day, obedient toddlers under the pillow, in shoes or in decorative socks, hung around the fireplace, were given presents. Those children who were naughty received rods or stones. Therefore, prepare gifts for kids and adults, as well as pleasant words of congratulations. This will raise your spirits not only to others, but to yourself.