Children experience the generosity of St. Nicholas

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

As children wait for Santa Claus to bring them presents on Christmas, some Catholics in the diocese also celebrate St. Nicholas, the original gift-giver whose feast day is Dec. 6.
Msgr. James P. Moroney, director of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship and pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster, gives us a history of this saint, Santa’s precursor.
“Today, of course, St. Nicholas has been transformed into our secular Santa Claus,” Msgr. Moroney notes. “But St. Nicholas was a real person, a fourth-century bishop who was noted for his generosity, giving gifts to all who were in need.”
On his feast day, many families give children gifts of apples, oranges, nuts or candy, the priest says.
“When the Dutch arrived in the United States (in New Amsterdam, a small town that came to be called New York City), they brought with them the celebration of the feast of St. Nicholas, based on the Nordic stories of a kindly old man who brought gifts to good little girls and boys,” Msgr. Moroney says. “The nineteenth century ‘Santa Claus’ was thus dressed in a bishop’s mitre and crozier, with a bag full of gifts slung over his shoulder.
“In many countries, children leave letters to St. Nicholas with prayers for all the poor children of the world, sometimes leaving carrots or grass for his donkey or horse as he makes his rounds. In turn, the children miraculously receive St. Nicholas Day cookies or other treats. (See the recipe from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France below for St. Nicholas Day gingerbread cookies.)
Students in some Catholic schools and parishes in the diocese are to get treats “from St. Nicholas,” imitate his generosity, and even meet him.
One of the priests from St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge is to dress as the saint and tell students at Trinity Catholic Academy in Southbridge about St. Nicholas on his feast day Dec. 6, says Angela Symock, principal. As these pre-school and elementary school students listen, their shoes, which they place outside their classrooms, will be filled with candy from St. Nicholas.
Elsewhere, older youth also get into this tradition.
Students at Trivium School in Lancaster, who are in grades 7-12, leave their shoes on the stairs on Dec. 5 for St. Nicholas to fill with candy overnight, says Brianne DeMasi, administrative assistant. On Dec. 6 the headmaster, William Schmitt, is to read them the saint’s story.
Trivium students get a chance to imitate St. Nicholas’ generosity before they leave for Christmas break. In a tradition called K.K. (for Kris Kringle, a name for the Christ Child or Santa), students draw names on Dec. 16. From  Dec. 19-21, they secretly give gifts and do good deeds, like praying the rosary for the person whose name they drew, Mrs. DeMasi says. On Dec. 21 they reveal who they have been doing this for.
At Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Still River, students in grades 1-3 get to “meet” St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa Claus, on Dec. 6, says Sister Katherine Maria Mueller, superior of the sisters, the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the St. Benedict Center, who run the elementary school. She says this “official Santa of Boston” comes in the traditional red suit and boots, but also dons a bishop’s cope and mitre and carries a crozier. Students (and other children who come after school) tell him what they want for Christmas, bring him notes and “he makes them sing for him.” They learn about St. Nicholas in classes, she says.
Members of St. Mark Parish in Sutton have been learning about the saint for years. During Advent, the pastor, Father Michael A. DiGeronimo, reads parishioners a story about St. Nicholas. This year he plans to read it after the 10:30 a.m. Mass Dec. 11.
“St. Nicholas” annually visits St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, thanks to Deacon W. Steve Miller, who serves there. Dressed as a bishop, “the saint” tells about his life, encourages listeners in living out their own faith and distributes candy canes to the children. This year he is to appear at the 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses Sunday, Dec. 4.


St. Nicholas Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
4 cups flour
2½ teaspoons baking powder
 1 cup sugar
¾ cup honey
1 tablespoon ground
cinnamon
1/8  teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground anise
¼ teaspoon grated
nutmeg
½ cup water
 1 egg white

Instructions:
In a small bowl, mix all the spices (cinnamon, anise, cloves, nutmeg).
Pour the spices in a large bowl. Add flour, baking powder and sugar. Mix.
Add honey and egg white. Knead the dough by hand or with a food processor.
Add half of the water.
Continue to knead the dough without adding the remaining water even if it may seem a bit dry at first.
After a few minutes, add the remaining water, if necessary. The dough should not be sticky. If this is the case, add a little flour.
Form a ball with the dough, cover with plastic wrap and set aside for at least 1 hour at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
Roll the dough to about  1/3 inch thick on a floured work surface.
Cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
Arrange the gingerbread cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between them.
Bake for about 15 minutes.
Cool cookies on a wire rack.