The story of Saint Nicholas

1
The story of Saint Nicholas
2
Early life

• St. Nicholas was born in 271 AD and died around
  December 6, 342 or 343 AD near the Asia Minor
  (Turkey) town of Myra,. where he later became
  Bishop.

3
His life

• He performed many good deeds and was a friend to
  the poor and helpless, and upon his death, myths
  soon sprang up about him all around the
  Mediterranean Sea.

4
Patron saint

• He was soon named as the patron saint of sailors,
  and when Myra was overthrown, his bones were
  transported by sailors to Bari, a port in Italy,
  where a tomb was built over the grave and became
  the centre of honour for St. Nicholas.

• His tomb in Bari in Italy

5
Down the chimney

• The reason today's Santa Claus drops gifts down
  chimneys is because Saint Nicholas did this. More
  than a thousand years ago Saint Nicholas gave
  people gifts in secret. Those who received his
  gifts never knew his identity. Saint Nicholas was
  a shy, humble, loving person. He didn't want to
  be praised for his generosity

6
St. Nicholas Day

• Saint Nicholas Day is usually on the 6th of
  December. It is a festival for children in many
  European countries. The American Santa Claus, and
  the Canadian and British Father Christmas comes
  form the legends about St. Nicholas.
• Santa Claus comes from the Dutch sinterklaas

7
St. Nicholas and Ireland

• According to local Irish legend, Saint Nicholas
  is buried in County Kilkenny. The grave is said
  to be in the ruined Church of St Nicholas. The
  church is all that remains of the medieval
  village, Newtown Jerpoint.

8
How did St. Nicholas get to Ireland?

• The tale tells of a band of Irish-Norman knights
  from Jerpoint, travelling to the Holy Land to
  take part in the Crusades. As they headed home to
  Ireland, they seized St Nicholas' remains,
  bringing them back to Kilkenny, where the
  bones were buried.