Since the day is right for western christmas traditions since in those, Santa Claus brings presents to kids on Christmas Eve, here’s the full story of how Saint Vasilios and Saint Nicolas, two Orthodox (eastern christianity) priests and scholars merged in western and germanic traditions to create the jolly red and white version of the story:
Let’s start with a short bio of the two saints:
Saint Nicolas- Αγιος Νικόλαος,
Usually portrayed in red garments.
So saint Nicolas is one of the most popular saints in greek culture because he is the protector of sailors and travellers and well…this is greece so..he basically was the protector of half the people.
He was born on march 15 270 In Patara of Lycea (Gelemish of today’s Turkey-pardon if my spelling is wrong), to rich and respectful parents who happened to be very educated and gave him the same education.
Being raised in early christians beliefs, he donated his fortune to the poor and became a christian priest at a time that christianity was still being condemned by the Roman Empire and the Byzantine empire was just being separated in the East.. He took it upon himself to protect everyone who was weaker be it a christian or not. Eventually, he rised on the Archbishop throne or Myrra (Demre of today’s Turkey) but was arrested by fanatic pagans who tortured him.
Once Konstantine the Great was established on the throne of the Eastern Romn empire and christianity became official he was released and created the most important religious workfor the Eastern Church.
He died on December 6, 343 and was name Myrovlitis -literally “smells good” because his remains started (supposedy) producng sacred myrh. ] His remains, are today kept in Bari, Italy they were brought ther when Myrra was occupied bythe Seltzuk turks.
In his honour, in greece is a 3 day celebration which always relates to the most cold weather and bad weather conditions. He is the official partron of our navy both military and navy.
In the western world he became the patron saint of children, pharmacists, repented thieves etc.
Saint Basil- Saint Vasilios -Αγιος Βασιλειος:
In Greece and in Orthodoxy he is known as Sain Vasilios the Great. He is one of the greatest figures in eastern christianity and a part of a very famous trio of saitns who were protectors of the Arts and Sciences, at a time where in the West, those things were not greatly appreciated.
Usually prtrayed with green garments. He was a tall, dark slim man with a raggedy appearance, black hair and beard holding a traveler’s stick.
He was born in 330 in Cessarea of Cappadokia (Caisery of today’s Turkey) son of a pontiac rhetor (a type of ancient lawyer) and a very scholarly and liberated mother called Emmelia, who is also celebrated along with him.
His mother and his grandmother were the most important people in shaping both his early christian principles and education.
(FYI he is the guy who claimed science is not opposite to religion and basically wrote a bunch of books explaining how science and philosophy shoudl be studied iunder the new religioous facts and not be separated,and that they will all receive a new value under the principles of christian kindness. He also claimed that the book of Genesis scientifically with what was then known, which includes in dividing the 6 days of creation as said in the Bible , to 6 eras of the Earth’s evolution..which does coincide with a lot of today’s proven facts ).
He sudied in many places including Athens and Byzantium. Among others he studied Rhetorics, Philosophy, Astronomy, Geometry, Medicine, Physics and Arts.
He became a lawyer but soon after travelled to Egypt, Palaistine, Mesopotamia and Syria in order to meet other monks and study in the monastic life.
-Basically that included living in the desert of Asia Minor for 5 years….
-guy was extra
-He plannedto stay there forever but the Bishop of Cesarea died and he was voted to be the next bishop so he had to go back.
Talk aout being popular and loved.
-He founded a bunch of charity homes that cared for the destitute both in terms of housing but also medical care and ALSO mental cultivations->education.
He died January 1st 379 aged only 49 and was burried with great honours.
He is celebrated ever since on January first and it also coincided with the New Year of Western traditions.
Saint Basil doesn’t bring gifts in early greek traditions but he brings a lucky new year. So eveyr new year’s eve we make a pie in his honour and cut it in pieces once the new year enters.
The cutting of the New year’s pie comes from ancient tradittions, basically Ancient Greece , from a celebration called Kronia and was later turned into the Saturnalia celebration from the Romans.
Later, in order to connect ancient traditions to christianity, Saint Basil was connected to the pie tradition.
Here’s how the story goes:
Acording to (hi)story, one state ruler known for his strict taxation and looting, demanded that saint Basil would gather more taxes from the subjects and bring them to him.
Somehow Basil convinced the ruler they didn’t needto give more money, but by that time all the people’s goods had been mixed and he had to find a way to give things back to people fairly.
So, he made small pies and inside he place the loots and the next day, after the mass he gave themto the people, so everyone received a fair amount back.
Following this tradition, during New Year’s pie,we place a gold coin (well it’s no longer gold) inside and whoever gets the piece with the coin is going to have the luckiest year. (or the worst depends on which greek tradition you follow).
This is why it’s also common to see a gold coin (with whole in the middle) in newyear’s Charms.
Now…going further to western traditions… the Francs and Venetians eventually took over a lot of places thatbelong to the Byzantine empire. Along with the Crusades and other conquers by the Goths and mixes of Western Roman Empire with germanic, celtic , slavic and nordic tribes, you get versions of a white bearded man bringing presents, or goods orjust having a dinner with the family (like the green father from the gaelic traditions).
Basically all those folklore stories connected with pagan traditions about winter , new year, etc,mixed up with the eastern traditions brought to the west by the fugitive scholars once the Byzantine empire fell.
those people brought over their traditions and they mixed with the western ones so evetually near the 19th century they all mingle into one. Saint Nicolas who brings presents to kids on Christmas Eve.
With the spread of American Commercialism and the impact it had on the world, Santa Claus was shaped inthe way he is known today in a lot of countries.
And to be honest it’s both amazing and sad.
Here we celebrate a man called Saint Basil..but ….he’s not longer the slender, skinny, ragedy and dark man of traditions but he’s an old white guy in red and white with rosy cheecks and a cheery disposition.
-He brings gifts on New Year’s Even not christmas eve and every kid goes caroling on new year’s eve and the lyrics talk about a skinny man from caesarea who holds a peper and a pen and writes long letters, but every kids imagiens the fat man of coca cola.
-No matter how the lyrics go and how the kids learn he comes from caesaria in Asia Minor, holding a pen and paper, proclaiming and supporting education, every child sees him carrying gifts in his sleigh tht comes from the North Pole.
A Force Sensitive Phasesixer 