Soignies Sint-Nicolass,
Napoleon Vier,
Dutch Wikipedia
Attribution required
Saint Nicholas (English), Hagios Nikolaos (Greek), Sanctus Nicolaus (Latin), Sankt Nikolaus/Heiliger Nikolaus (German), San Nicola/San Nicolo (Italian), Saint Nicolas (French), San Nicolas (Spain), Sint-Niclass (the Netherlands) was a historic 4th-century Christian saint and Greek priest, abbot, and eventually Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). He is thus commonly called Nicholas of Myra (in Greek: Nikolaos ton Myron). He is also known as Saint Nicholas of Bari (in Italian: San Nicola/San Nicolo di Bari).
Many legends surround this historical saint. Nicholas of Myra was probably born around 245, but the dates of his life are sometimes given as March 15, 270--December 6, 343. Nicholas of Myra is likewise known as Nicholas the Wonderworker (in Greek: Nikolaos ho Thaumaturgos), because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession. Some of these miracles attributed to him took place in his lifetime; others have him appearing to those in need after his death. Nicholas was recognized as a saint before the process of canonization was instituted. Within about a century of his death, Nicholas was celebrated as a saint. During this time period, holy and venerable women and men were declared saints by "acclamation," the unannimous consent of the people. This saint continues to be widely honored and venerated, not only in the Orthodox Church, but Saint Nicholas is commemorated and revered among some Anglican, Catholic, and Lutheran chuches. Indeed, even some Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches have been named in Saint Nicholas' honor.
Among Saint Nicholas' feast dates are December 6, May 9 (the transfer of his relics), and July 29. In Austria, parts of Germany, and Switzerland, his feast day, Nikolaustag, December 6, is the day for children to receive gifts from Saint Nicholas. The custom of giving treats to children on December 6 may have begun in 11th century France.
One legend has several different versions which read a bit like a horror story.
The legend involves two or three students or young lads who are journeying either from home to a school or from a school to home, but they must stop and seek lodging for the night. They are murdered most fouly, apparently by a greedy evil-hearted murderer who wants all their money, not just a few coins for one night's bread and board.
A medieval version tells of two Spanish scholars traveling home from a boarding school for a holiday. When the two had stopped at a largely deserted inn for the night, the evil innkeeper killed the students, took their money and hid the evidence of his crime by stuffing the bodies and into a large empty barrel.
Another version of this old story is about three theological students (young men) traveling on their way to study in Athens. The students stopped at a lonely inn and were drugged, robbed, and murdered by a wicked innkeeper who again hid their remains in a large pickling tub.
In both cases, the good saint arrived later to resurrect the dead students.
The French La Legende du Grand Saint Nicolas, published by the Societe de S. Augustin, Desclee, De Brouwer & Cie., Paris-Lille-Bruges, circa early 1800s, involved a murderous butcher. A summary, "loosely translated" from French, follows.
Three small children were gleaning in the fields. As they worked and played, they wandered off into the town. Walking about and exploring, the children forgot the time.In La Legende du Grand Saint Nicolas, Saint Nicolas urged the butcher not to run but to repent of his evil, because, "God will forgive you." In France, this evil butcher became Saint Nicolas's servant and has followed him ever since. In this particular story, the servant was called "Pere Fouettard." In Francophone stories, he is often "Pere Fouettard" or "Pere La Pouque." In the region of Lorraine, where they speak German and Lorroine Franconian, the servant of Saint Nicolas is often called "Rubbels"/"Rubelz"/"Ruppknecht".When it was late and the sun going down, the children were hungry, tired and lost. They came to a lighted butcher's shop, knocked and said, "We are lost and hungry. May we eat and sleep?"
"Oh, yes," came the reply, "do come in."
As they enter, the butcher takes a sharp knife, cuts them up, and puts them in a large salting tub. Seven years pass.
A knock comes on the door. Bishop Saint Nicolas appears, saying to the evil butcher, "Open your large salting tub!" The saint puts his hand on the tub and, appealing to God, says, "Rise up, children." The little children awake and stand up. Their families joyfully welcome them home.
Ever since St. Nicholas has been the patron and protector of children.
La Legende du Grand Saint Nicolas, accessed 12/17/2015.
I would not be surprised if there was a version in which the dead boys were hidden in an empty beer barrel. In one version, which might have been made in to a miracle play or an opera, the boys sang,"Alleluia," when they came back to life.
In the tale of Nicholas and the Three Pickled Boys, the villain was an evil shopkeeper who despised children. He kidnapped and imprisoned three small boys. Then, the shopkeeper chopped them up with an ax, and pickled their body parts in a barrel of pickle brine. Fortunately that evening, Saint Nicholas just happened to stop by at the same shop. Upon finding the body parts in the barrel, Saint Nick raised them from the dead, with all the pickled pieces miraculously reassembling themselves correctly on all three boys, whereupon they were alive and unharmed. (I can't help but wonder if this villain had enticed the boys into his shop with promises of free pickles.)
+ Here's my version of this legend as I retell it:
The Three Pickled Boys and Saint Nicholas
The day before the feast which we now call, "Nikolaustag," three young university students were traveling together to their home town for the holidays when a
winter storm sprang up. They sought shelter at an old tavern. The tavern owner welcomed them and said he was glad to have company, for this storm would
surely keep other customers away. By the manner of their clothes, he knew they came from wealthy families. The tavern owner likewise expressed surprise to
learn that these lads were traveling back home without having written to their families beforehand to let their families know of their journey homeward. As he fixed them a
hot meal, he explained that this was a humble tavern, but he could offer them the last of the tasty pickles to go with the simple meal.
Upon catching a glimpse of gold in their purses, his resolve was set. He drugged their food and drink. When they fell into a deep sleep, he stole their money, rifled through
their bags for anything of value, and slit their throats, butchering them like swine.
Since the ground was frozen hard, he could not bury the corpses. Thus, he dumped their naked bodies in pickle barrels, preserving their remains in leftover pickle
brine. He chuckled, "No one will smell their rotting flesh before I can bury them." It was near midnight when the tavern owner finally finished cleaning up the
mess of his grisly work.
However, at the stroke of twelve, it was December 6, the Feast of Saint Nicholas, and the saint himself walked through the tavern keeper’s door. He raised his bishop
staff and called the three young lads, "Rise up, rise up, God's children! Arise, and come forth!" They climbed out of the pickle brine alive and whole, singing an
aria of alleluias.
Saint Nicholas then turned to the tavern owner and said, "Come thou thief and murderer, thou shalt repent for thy butchery as my servant,
Knecht Ruprecht, through all the years to come." Then, he bound Ruprecht in chains, and disappeared with him into the snowy night.
These students returned home to their families, ever thankful to God and their patron saint.
(For images showing the Three Murdered Boys being raised by Saint Nicholas, click here.)
In the folklore of much of Germany, Saint Nicholas' companion is "Knecht Ruprecht" (Servant Rupert). He carries a bag of ashes, a basket containing switches, and bags of treats (gingerbread, chocolates, nuts, oranges, etc). He is dressed in brown and is sometimes bound with a chain or carries a chain. (As noted before, "Rubbels"/"Rubelz"/"Ruppknecht" is the name of the servant of Saint Nicholas in the German-speaking region of Lorraine in France.)
The number of things and people that Saint Nicholas gives patronage to is very large. His intercession can be specifically invoked against storms at sea, against sterility, against fire, against thefts/robberies/robbers/thieves, and against imprisonment.
Interestingly, some of his patronage relates directly to the different versions of this legend. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of boys, choir boys, students,
scholars, school children, children in general... and many more.
++ The Custom of the Christmas Pickle
According to this custom, a glass green ornament in the shape of a pickle is secretly hung on a tree as one of the decorations. On the morning of December 25,
the first child to find the pickle on the tree would receive an extra present from Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus. If an adult spies the pickle, s/he would be said to have a year of good fortune.
The custom of the Christmas Pickle in the USA has come to be loosely associated with Saint Nicholas...and some have associated this custom with the old
story of Saint Nicholas rescuing the three students or boys. I suspect some parents might actually tell their own kids a version of the tale of the pickled boys
with Saint Nicholas, explaining the pickle is to remind us of the goodness of the saint.
History of the Christmas Pickle or Weihnachtsgurke
Here is the true history. The Christmas Pickle, known is German as a Weihnachtsgurke, is simply one of many types of glass holiday tree ornaments (Weihnachtsbaumschmuck), which have been exported from Germany.
In the 1880s, Woolworth stores in the USA began selling imported German glass ornaments for Christmas trees. These holiday glass ornaments came in many shapes including the shape of various fruit and vegetables. Likely, there may also have been some German glass pickle ornaments. It is known that the 1909 catalogue of the Lyra Fahrrad-Werke from the Brandenburg Prenzlau did list a "Weihnachtsgurke" in its assortment of glass holiday tree ornaments.
It is also known that sometime after these German Christmas tree ornaments were imported to the USA, a story began to circlulate in the USA that it was an "old German Christmas tradtion" to hang a glass ornament in the shape of a green pickle on the tree after the children went to bed. In the morning, the first child to spot the pickle got an extra gift from Saint Nicholas.
This custom does sound like a fun game for Christmas morning as the green pickle tucked discretly between the branches would be relatively difficult to detect, especially if the children were forbidden from trying to touch the ornaments or the tree.
It is true also that pickles, especially gherkins, are a very popular food in Germany. It might make as much sense to decorate a tree with glass pickles as with glass grapes or any fruit and vegetables.
It is also true that barrels with pickling brine are featured in some of the stories about the Saint Nicholas legend involving the murdered students/boys/scholars/children.
However in most German regions, this custom of the Weihnachtsgurke involving a December 25 morning game is unknown to the general public.
The claim that the Christmas morning game of finding the pickle ornament in order to get some prize as an "old German Christmas tradition" appears to be fakelore, rather than any German folk custom.
Indeed, the German Saint Nicholas brings small gifts around his feast day, Decmeber 6. German families open their Christmas presents on the night of December 24, instead of the morning of December 25.
Yet, some American families do have a tradition involving a green glass pickle on the Christmas tree and an extra gift from Saint Nick/Santa Claus for a child--or a year of good fortune to an adult--who spots the pickle first. The custom is now thought to have originated in the USA from the late 19th or perhaps early 20th century.
Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA, is recognized as the "Christmas Pickle Capital of the World" by the Pickle Packers International. Berrien Springs used to hold an annual Christmas pickle festival during the early part of December. The festival now has been renamed as "Kindle Your Christmas Spirit." The German glass pickle ornaments are for sale at the town's museum. (The folks in Berrien Springs seem to have been fond of sharing the medieval story of the two Spanish students/scholars.)
In some USA families, the Christmas Pickle tradition has evolved a step further by serving pickles at the holiday meal. There is an actual Christmas Pickle recipe for making pickles with cinnamon sticks and red food coloring.
The Christmas Pickles Which Can Be Eaten
https://recipeland.com/recipe/v/christmas_pickles_27166
Yield 8 servings
Prep 5 days
Cook 1 hour boiling
Ready 5 days
Low Fat, Low in Saturated Fat, Low Cholesterol, Cholesterol-Free, Trans-fat Free
Soaking solution
Boiling solution
Syrup
Directions
--from Christmas Pickles, acessed on December 17, 2015. (I have never tried to make this Christmas dish.)
Things That Have Nothing to Do with the Weihnachtsgurke
Nicholas the Patron Saint of Many
Saint Nicholas, known for his saintly generosity, has long fascinated me, probably due to my elementary school years in which we annually learned about "Christmas Around the World." My fascination grew from learning that name of the furry American Gift Giver derived from the name of Saint Nicholas.
I feel I would be remiss if I did not take a quick opportunity to discuss this saint's other patronage and other legends. I would not wish a reader to be misled into thinking that good Saint Nicholas was primarily known for pickles and raising young men from pickle brine. Neither is he revered primarily as a December Gift Giver in all countries that honor him.
As noted above, the number of occupations and people to which Saint Nicholas gives patronage is very large. When discussing his connection to the December holiday season and Santa Claus, authors often state that that he has become especially a patron saint of children. That is true.
However, Saint Nicholas, as well as being a patron of various cities and countries around Europe, is the patron saint of such diverse occupations as sailors, merchants, pawnbrokers, brewers, archers, etc. He became patron of some things due to the iconography and/or legends associated him. Yet in other cases, people chose him as a patron because they they were in an occupation that was related to one of which he was already a patron.
Below are three famous stories that grew up around him prior to his becoming associated with the guy in the furry Yuletide red suit.
Ships and Water Travel
During his lifetime, while Saint Nicholas was journeying by sea to the Holy Lands, a fierce storm blew up, threatening the ship. He prayed, and the storm calmed. This sort of thing is not an unusual activity for a saint traveling by sea.
Nevertheless, this story caused him to be chosen as the patron of sailors and those who work on the sea or with watercraft: including watermen, mariners, skippers, boatmen, bargemen, longshoremen, ferrymen, fishermen, fish mongers, dock workers, ship owners, ship wrights, gaugers, travellers (especially traveling over water), and pilgrims (Especially journeying on a pilgrimage over water). His patronage also could include merchants who traveled by water or merchants who sold goods that were shipped over water. Hence, spice merchants, oil merchants, timber merchants, linen merchants, and grain merchants also had Saint Nicholas as their patron. Those who supplied ships, known as chandlers, viewed him as a patron. Those who built or repaired ships--ship carpenters--also claimed him as a patron, as did shipwreck victims. One source claimed pirates could also invoke his patronage.
The St. Nicholas Center notes: "Many ports, most notably in Greece, have icons of Nicholas, surrounded by ex-votos of small ships made of silver or carved of wood. Sailors returning safely from sea, place these in gratitude to St. Nicholas for protection received. In some places sailors, instead of wishing one another luck, say, 'May Saint Nicholas hold the tiller.'"
Justice and Mercy
A legend regarding the saint's lifetime told how Saint Nicholas was imprisoned during the persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, but was released under Constantine. This legend may be the cause of people involved in or dealing with the legal system choosing him as a patron.
Another legend recounted that Saint Nicholas came to the end of three innocent men. Apparently when traveling as a bishop, he intervened when these men were about to be beheaded unjustly. Fearlessly striding forward, Nicholas disarmed the executioner. He then proceeded to prove the three men not guilty, and secured their release.
There are also stories of the lives of guiltless soldiers being spared through the intervention of Saint Nicholas. Apparently these stories fall in the same category as those wrongly imprisoned being released. This group of stories reveals his strong concern for justice, especially innocent victims.
There is a related story that Saint Nicholas appeared to some thieves, convincing them to return their plunder. Thus, he can likewise be invoked against theft and robbery. This story also explains his patronage of repentent thieves. In the past, thieves have been called "Saint Nicholas' clerks" or "Knights of Saint Nicholas." Saint Nicholas therefore is the patron of those associated with the legal system and courts: lawyers, judges, court recorders, registrars, clerks, notaries, as well as penetent thieves and robbers, penetent murderers, litigants with lawsuits lost unjustly, prisoners, captives, and soldiers.
Saintly Generosity and Gifts
Born to wealthy parents, this generous saint was said to have used his inheritance to assist the sick, the needy, and the poor. There are a number of stories about his generosity and embracing the Christian command to give to the poor.
Before jolly old Saint Nick left toys in stockings, there were stories that the good saint was a Gift Giver during his lifetime in Myra. According to some versions, he sometimes left coins in shoes. (Because of the coins in shoes, Saint Nick is patron of cobblers/shoemakers, shoe shiners, and boot-blacks.)
This last story involving three unmarried girls is the tale that that is often repeated in holiday history discussions for elementary school children. It is the tale I, growing up in the 1960's-70's USA, have often read as the reason for linking the good saint with the Christmas custom of gift giving. (I don't think that was the original intention of the story, but I have read it summarized in many articles.)
This tale recounted that a merchant, businessman, or ship owner in Myra had fallen on hard times. He could not provide dowries for the marriage of his daughters, and such was his debt that he considered selling them into an "evil life."
"Evil life" was a euphemism for prostitution. More sanitized versions of this story sometimes stated only that the three daughters would never be able to marry for lack of dowries.
Learning of their plight, Saint Nicholas went after dark to the house and threw three bags of gold of his own money in through the window as the household slept. Thus, he saved these girls from an unhappy existence.
Some versions say that the three bags of gold, tossed through a window, landed on the hearth. Other versions claim the gold was secretly dropped down the chimney. Some retellings change other details, such as rather than three bags of gold, it was three golden balls. Other versions state the gold was secretly delivered by slipping gold coins into the girls' shoes. In others, the bags of gold were said to have landed in their stockings which had been washed and hung up to dry by the fire. Many of these changes to details are assumed to be modern embellishments to the original legend.
This story initially caused him to become the patron saint of girls, maidens/virgins, and unmarried girls, but it also succeeded later in neatly tying him in with leaving gifts around the hearth or in stockings or shoes.
Since he generously gave his own gold for the benefit of three poor girls, he is also the patron of poor people and paupers.
Those three bags of gold later became the three golden balls marked on signs indicating a pawn broker's shop. Later, some have likened these three balls to weights for measuring dry goods, like grain, flour, etc. Interestingly, the three gold balls also resemble golden oranges sold by grocers, as oranges were traditionally given as Christmas gifts.
Therefore, the connection of Saint Nicholas to merchants was enhanced by his patronage of pawn brokers, as well as others who handle money, including bankers and businessmen.
Because of his association with merchants of all kinds, it seems particularly fitting in the 21st century that he is a saint associated with the economic impact in the USA of the holiday of Christmas, as well as toy makers and shop keepers. Good Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of peddlers.
Looking back at his intervention on behalf of the three daughters, we understand how he became the patron of several more occupations. Because of his patronage to unmarried girls--particularly unmarried girls whom he had helped lead an honest life, he is associated with spinsters/spinners, weavers, cloth shearers, ribbon weavers, lace makers, button makers, milliners/haberdashers (hat makers)--all honest employment associated with women.
He was also the patron of old maids, aka spinsters, but he likewise was a patron of women desirous of being married, brides, newlyweds, grooms, and lovers looking to be married.
Furthermore, his aid can be invoked by newlyweds or brides against sterility. Infertile married couples could pray to him for children.
Patronage Associated with the Three Pickled Boys Legend
However, as we return to examining the story of the three pickled boys/students/scholars, the variations of this story led to his patronage of many different types of individuals: boys, altar boys, altar servers, choir boys/choristers, children, girls, virgins, travelers, innkeepers, hoteliers, shop keepers, grocers, butchers, students, schoolchildren, pupils, teachers, educators, scholars, apothecaries, druggists, pharmacists, spice dealers, perfumers, perfumeries, embalmers, pickle makers, wine porters, brewers, beer makers, vinters, wine makers, barkeeps, grain merchants, barrel makers, and coopers.
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of barrel makers or coopers, because the bodies of the students/scholars/children were put into a barrel.
Since both beer and wine are aged in barrels, he was chosen as the patron saint of brewers and wine makers/vinters. He is also the patron saint of anyone who might serve wine or beer.
He likewise became the patron saint of embalmers, because the pickle brine preserved the bodies of the murdered boys.
I am sure you can guess why he is also the patron saint of pickle makers--as well as druggists, pharmacists, apothecaries, and spice dealers.
Because Saint Nicholas has a legendary companion who is a repentent thief and murderer, this reinforced his patronage of murderers and thieves, especially those who repent. Or perhaps it was the other way around. Maybe someone thought his servant should be a repentent thief and/or murderer?
More About Patronage
I should also add that I do not know why Saint Nicholas became the patron of some occupations: archers, bakers, candle makers, chair makers, drapers, farm workers, farmers, firefighters, florists, military intelligence, murano glass makers, poets, rag pickers, and stone masons. I could hazzard a guess that bakers took him as their patron when they sold baked goods made specifically for his feast day. He may be the patron of rag pickers, as this was an occupation for the poor.
Some of these occupations might have something to do with places he had patronage over. Saint Nicholas has been chosen as the guardian of a great many cities, countries, and churches:
Symbols and Appearance of Saint Nicholas in Iconography
Saint Nicholas was a priest, bishop, and in some sources named as an archbishop. He is therefore usually represented dressed as a bishop, usually with a crozier (bishop's staff) and/or miter (bishop's hat). Common representations show him as a:
I hope this wandering and complicated discussion of Saint Nicholas and his legends, particularly focusing on Saint Nicholas the Weihnachtsgurke and the pickled boys, provides an insight of just how complex legends spanning centuries can be.
copyright 2016 Myth Woodling
Sources
David Baird, Christmas, Decorations, Feasts, Gifts, Traditions, 2005.
Beliefnet.com, Saints (Un)Preserve Us: St. Nicholas Resurrects Pickled Boys!, accessed 12/17/15.
Maria Bowler, From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus: An Interview December 21, 2015, accessed 12/24/15.
Jay Brooks, St. Nicholas: Patron Saint of Brewers, December 6, 2015, accessed 12/24/15.
CatholicSaints.Info, Saint Nicholas of Myra, accessed 12/17/15.
County Fair, The Legend of the Pickle, 2009-2015, accessed 12/17/15.
Marcus, German Christmas Pickle--The Truth Behind The Tradition, 12/20/10, accessed 12/17/15.
The Michigan Outfitter, Small Michigan town is The Christmas Pickle Capital of the World, December 23, 2014, accessed 12/17/15.
St. Nicholas Center, Who is Saint Nicholas?, 2002, 2015, accessed 12/17/15.
St. Nicholas Center. Gift-Giver, 2002, 2015, accessed 12/17/15.
St. Nicholas Center, St. Nicholas Symbols, 2002, 2015, accessed 12/17/15.
St. Nicholas Center, People, 2002, 2015, accessed 12/17/15.
St. Nicholas Center (as quoted from), La Legende du Grand Saint Nicolas, accessed 12/17/15.
Christmas Pickles, accessed on 12/17/15.
CatholicSaints.Info - notes about your extended family in heaven, accessed 12/17/15.
Images of the Three Pickled Boys and Saint Nicholas
To see an image of Saint Nicholas reviving the three murdered boys from a pickling tub: Photograph by Trevor Little. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1916 (16.32.193). This statue orginates c. 1500. Accessed 12/17/15.
The following images of Saint Nicholas are from Wikipedia.
Soignies Sint-Nicolass,
Napoleon Vier,
Dutch Wikipedia
Attribution required
 Drei Legenden vom heiligen Nikolaus ca. 1500-1510 Gerard David public domain |
 ca. 1510-1530 artist unknown France public domain |
ca. 1425 Gentile da Fabriano public domain |
Knecht Ruprecht
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