The Collaborative International Dictionary
Saint Nicholas \Saint Nicholas\, St Nicholas \St. Nicholas\, n. A Dutch saint, who was reputed to bring gifts to children on Christmas even, giving rise to the modern legend of Santa Claus.
A Visit from St. Nicholas The original name for a poem by Clement Clarke Moore, popularly called titled The Night Before Christmans. It is a popular poem with the theme of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) coming to bring gifts to children on Christmans eve. See Night Before Christmas in the vocabulary.
Wikipedia
Saint Nicholas (, , ); (15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker (, ). His reputation evolved among the faithful, as was common for early Christian saints, and his legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus through Sinterklaas.
The historical Saint Nicholas is commemorated and revered among Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. In addition, some Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches have been named in honor of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers and students in various cities and countries around Europe.
Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra.
Saint Nicholas may also refer to:
- Saint Nicholas Day, the feast day in honor of the 4th-century saint
- Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas, a western folk legend inspired by the saint
- Sinterklaas or Sint Niklaas, Dutch variant of the folk legend
- Pope Nicholas I or Saint Nicholas the Great (c. 800–868)
- Nicholas of Tolentino (c.1246–1303), Italian saint and mystic
- Nicholas of Flüe (1417–1487), Swiss hermit and ascetic
- Nicholas Pieck (1534–1572), Dutch saint and martyr
- Nicholas Owen (martyr) (c.1550–1606), English Catholic martyr
- Nicholas of Japan (1836–1912), introduced Eastern Orthodox Church to Japan
- Nicholas II of Russia or Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer (1868–1918), last emperor of Russia
- Niels of Aarhus (before 1157–1180), Danish saint and prince
- St. Nicholas, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Saint Nicholas Peak, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada
- St. Nicholas, (civil parish, County Wexford), a civil parish in the barony of Ballaghkeen South, County Wexford, Ireland
- St. Nicholas, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
- Mount Saint Nicholas, Montana, United States
- Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York City, United States
- St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
- Saint Nicolas (Britten), a cantata with music by Benjamin Britten and text by Eric Crozier
- St. Nicholas Magazine, a children's magazine published in the United States (1873–1943)
- The original name of the Botik of Peter the Great, a miniature warship
- Sveti Nikola, a song by the Serbian hard rock band Kerber
Usage examples of "saint nicholas".
The interior of Saint Nicholas Church was mostly in darkness, though a few lights still burned in the altar area.
Today, for instance, is the Feast of Saint Barbara and day after tomorrow will be the Feast of Saint Nicholas.
I never did manage to find out how the same figment could give rise to both Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of thieves.
Even Saint Nicholas was able to deliver all his Gifts, and yet find time for a brisk Pint at The Indian Queen.
Oh yeah, that Saint Nicholas was originally famous because he brought back to life some children who'd been dismembered and stuffed into a pickle jar.