Students celebrate feast of famed Bishop of Myra, patron saint of children
St. Nicholas traditions abound at local Catholic schools, including leaving shoes in the hallway to be filled by the sainted Bishop of Myra. The anticipation of an impending visit from St. Nicholas builds to a near fever pitch about three weeks before Christmas in many Catholic families and schools.
On the eve of Dec. 6, children around the world observe the saint’s feast day by placing their shoes outside their door, window or hearth in the hopes of receiving something special from the Turkish bishop. Students at schools in the Diocese of Charlotte join in on this fun while learning the story of the true St. Nicholas.
Born in Lycia in Asia Minor around the late third or fourth century, St. Nicholas of Myra is more than just the inspiration for the modern-day Santa. As a young man he is said to have made a pilgrimage to Palestine and Egypt to study in the school of the Desert Fathers. On returning some years later he was almost immediately ordained Bishop of Myra, which is now Demre, on the coast of modern-day Turkey.
One of the most famous stories of the generosity of St. Nicholas says that he threw bags of gold through an open window in the house of a poor man to serve as dowry for the man’s daughters, who otherwise would have been sold into slavery.
The gold is said to have landed in the family’s shoes, which were drying near the fire. This began the tradition of children leaving their shoes out by the door, or hanging their stockings by the fireplace, in the hopes of receiving a gift on the eve of his feast.
Catholic schools across the Diocese of Charlotte celebrated this ancient tradition in their own special way.
Sacred Heart School in Salisbury had a full day of festivities on Dec. 6. Students in all grades placed their shoes in the hallway and they were filled with treats by
St. Nicholas, who also visited with the children. Each class visited the gym, where they played games and made ornaments to take home.
At Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro, an eighth grader played the role of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. Children in grades pre-K through 2nd left one shoe outside their classroom door in the hopes that St. Nicholas would leave them a treat. Eighth-grade students explained the story and significance of the beloved saint to the children of all the classes.
St. Pius X Parish and School in Greensboro hosted a Little Town of Bethlehem and Living Nativity event the evening of Dec. 2, where St. Nicholas made a special appearance.
Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem hosted a Blessing of Candy Canes on Dec. 6. A symbol of St. Nicholas, these treats are actually candy croziers. Bishops carry croziers, staffs shaped like a shepherd’s crook, showing they are the shepherds who care for, or tend, their people. At nearby St. Leo School, students created paper bishop’s mitres and Dutch shoes associated with the tradition.
At St. Gabriel School in Charlotte, the day started with a grandfather who dressed up as St. Nicholas and was interviewed on the school’s Jaguar TV at 7:45 a.m.
All students placed one shoe in the hallway outside of their classroom, and after morning prayers, St. Nicholas left a candy cane and prayer card in each shoe. Once St. Nicholas left the school, St. Gabriel Principal Michele Snoke made an announcement, and students retrieved their shoes. During the school day, many classes learned about the real St. Nicholas and created different items.
St. Michael School in Gastonia also received a visit from St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. Students put their shoes in the hallway, and they were filled with clementines and mandarins, chocolate gold coins, candy canes and prayer cards. Asheville Catholic also celebrated the sainted bishop by participating in the shoe tradition.
St. Nicholas certainly had a full schedule in western North Carolina. He also paid a visit to St. Mark School in Huntersville. The parish of St. Mark is home to a relic of St. Nicholas, which is featured each year in the church’s relic veneration on All Saints Day.
“It’s important to teach our children about the very real lives of the saints, and St. Nicholas is very relatable to them,” said Amy Burger, Saint Mark Church’s PR coordinator. “How wonderful that our Catholic children learn about this third-century saint who was the inspiration for Santa Claus, especially his role in serving those in need.”
— Annie Ferguson. Photos Provided by Amy Burger, Christine Eagan, Jennifer Elkins, Natalie Jackson, Francesca Jewell, Elena Leone, Paola Scilinguo-Mendoza, Curran Sentilles and Michele Snoke.
