Today, Saturday 6 December, is the feast day of one particularly well-known Christmas saint, Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra in modern day Turkey and is the patron saint of children, amongst other things including seafarers. In countries like the Netherlands, and its European neighbours, 6 December is the day when Saint Nicholas delivers presents presents and sweets to well-behaved children (rather than on Christmas Eve as Father Christmas does in this country).
I happened to go to Myra some years ago and visited the Church of Saint Nicholas. (St Nicholas' also happened to be the church I went to as a child.) The image which will always remain with me is that of the statue of Saint Nicholas, in full Christmas regalia, in the baking Mediterranean sun. Very festive!
Ho, ho, ho.
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