6 December 23

The Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December honors the death of the real Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (270-343 CE). He was known as a champion of generosity, especially toward children. His religious leadership included participating in the Council of Nicaea (in 325) which formulated the doctrine of the Trinity. In the centuries after his death, tales of his generosity and faith created high veneration for his saintly character. By the early 19th century the fictional character we call Santa Claus emerged through legend and fantasy, focusing on St. Nick's powers to distribute gifts. My tie shows Santa and his reindeer playing games (and note the bright red nose on each reindeer, as in the story of Rudolph).