Down Through the Chimney

Dear Santa Believers,

Early last Monday morning, Dani and I lost a dear friend, Karen Donahue. Texting the sad news to our son Calvin included the reminder that Karen was the daughter of the “chocolate coin lady.” When Calvin was very small, Karen’s mother Irma, who was from Germany, insisted that every child in her family and friend orbit receive gold-foil wrapped chocolate coins at Christmas. From that time forward, Irma was known as the “chocolate coin lady,” and in her memory the confection tokens have been a part of every December.

You may well know the story, and this may also be tradition in your family, but its history is well worth repeating.

Nicholas (270-343), who became Bishop of Myra, a port city in what is now modern Turkey, had been a prisoner under Diocletian, the violent, church-persecuting Roman Emperor. From 303-312 Diocletian had attempted to exterminate Christianity from the Empire; his bloody project ended with the ascendency of Constantine, who in 323 converted to Christianity and freed the imprisoned Christians throughout the Empire.

Released from prison, Nicholas went on a pilgrimage to Egypt, and upon his return was named Bishop of Myra. While little is known about the historic Nicholas, records indicate that he was an attendee at the First Council of Nicaea 325, and would have participated in drafting the Nicaean Creed. In addition, Nicholas is remembered for his fierce defense of the poor and oppressed, often shaming the wealthy into acts of benevolence.

One account regards a poor fisherman who had become indebted to a merchant charging exorbitant interest rates. The destitute fisherman was unable to pay off the ruthless merchant, who threatened to sell the fisher’s daughters to a brothel if their father did not bring his account current. On the night before the debt was due, the fisher and his wife wept with their three girls, praying and pleading for God to provide for their redemption.

Nicholas, who had learned of the poor family’s plight, determined to liberate the girls from their horrible fate. Wanting to preserve the dignity of the fisher and keep their deliverance anonymous, two days before Christmas Nicholas wrapped gold coins in a cloth. Knowing the family was too poor to afford even firewood, Nicholas tossed the small bag through the window and into the cold fireplace. Awakened by the clatter of coins, the father found the answer to their prayers on the firebox floor. Other versions of the story have Nicholas putting the coins in the girl’s stockings that were drying in front of the fireplace. In both versions the “miracle” of the gold coins continued two more nights until the fisher could pay off his debt and rescue his daughters. The Christmas gift from Nicholas appeared to come down the chimney.

Early saints were not canonized by the pope, but by local bishops. It is unclear when Nicholas became a saint, but less than 200 years after his death, Emperor Theodosius II ordered St. Nicholas Church to be built in Myra, where Nicholas had served as bishop. The tradition of giving gold coins to the poor on St. Nicholas Day, December 6, has continued for centuries. Replacing real gold coins with gold-foil wrapped chocolate began in the mid-16th century when chocolate was introduced in Europe, and over time chocolate coins became associated with Christmas Day.

Nick’s arrival in North America came through Dutch immigrants to New York in the 1700’s, who knew Saint Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, shortened to Sinter Klaas. Obviously, on his travels from Greece to Holland to America, the generous saint put on a few pounds. It’s hard to stay on a diet while traveling.

Yes, there really was a Saint Nicholas whose gifts came down the chimney.

Lingering over sweet memories of loved ones this Christmas, I remain,

With Love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor

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