Olympia, Washington

Out of the total population, 10.4% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Nicholas), and a treble (young Saint Nicholas). 12.1% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. This is for small orchestra, three choirs, a tenor soloist (St. The per capita income for the city is $22,590. This tells the story of Saint Nicholas and his Christian exploits. Males have a median income of $41,267 versus $31,515 for females. Benjamin Britten wrote a Christmas cantata commissioned by three public schools.

The median income for a household in the city is $40,846, and the median income for a family is $54,136. Nicholas (São Nicolau) has been celebrated since the Middle Ages in Guimarães as the patron saint of high-school students, in the so called Nicolinas, a group of festivities that occur from November 29th to December 7th each year. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.1 males. In Portugal, St. For every 100 females there are 91.5 males. He is accompanied by "Père Fouettard", carrying a bunch of sticks with which naughty children are beaten. The median age is 36 years. In France, Saint Nicolas is only celebrated this way in the eastern part of the country (Alsace, Lorraine regions) and less strongly in the northern part of the country (Nord département).

In the city the population is spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who are 65 years of age or older. Saint Nicholas is also celebrated by the university students in the city of Liège. The average household size is 2.21 and the average family size is 2.88. Note that Saint Nicholas has been celebrated in Belgium for centuries - there is even a city called Sint-Niklaas - but, like every folkloristic thing in Belgium, there might be small differences, and generally in the eastern part of the provinces West Flanders and East Flanders Saint Nicholas is not celebrated, but instead children receive presents from Sint Maarten (Saint Martin) on the 11th of November. 35.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. This tradition was still alive thirty years ago in the Catholic south of The Netherlands. There are 18,670 households out of which 26.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% are married couples living together, 10.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% are non-families. Children have to put their shoes by the stove the evening of the 5th of December and the next morning, they find their presents.

4.38% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any ethnicities. The celebrating of Saint-Nicholas is mostly the same as in the Netherlands, but in Belgium the children receive their presents on the 6th of December. The ethnic makeup of the city is 85.26% White, 1.89% African American, 1.30% Native American, 5.82% Asian, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 1.68% from other cultural backgrounds, and 3.76% from two or more ethnicities. Originally Sinterklaas or Sint-Nikolaas was only celebrated in Flanders and the Netherlands the way described above, but now he is celebrated in Wallonia in the same way. There are 19,738 housing units at an average density of 456.1/km² (1,181.3/mi²). The quality of such poetry varies strongly, from crooked rhymes to reasonably well written poems of several pages. The population density is 982.3/km² (2,544.4/mi²). Since the poem is signed by Sinterklaas, the poems can be pleasantly sharp and things can be said which one would not usually say directly, even though it is usually clear who wrote the poem.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 42,514 people, 18,670 households, and 9,969 families residing in the city. The poems may also be more like small pieces of art, often ridiculing things the receiver did in the past year. The total area is 9.77% water. But not to worry, there are always real gifts, the biggest of which are sometimes a remnant of the original tradition, reserved for the next morning, spread out on a big table and buried under walnuts and mandarins ('from Spain'). 43.3 km² (16.7 mi²) of it is land and 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is water. The possibilities are endless and preparations may start weeks (or months) in advance. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.0 km² (18.5 mi²). There may be instructions about where the gift is hidden, the parcel may act strangely when handled, there may be several layers of wrapping, with syrup smeared in between and ultimately there may be no gift in the parcel at all.

Olympia is located at 47°2'33" North, 122°53'35" West (47.042418, -122.893077)^GR1. The poem and the wrapping, called surprise, usually become more important than the gift itself. Olympia is also known for its farmer's market, the second largest in Washington as well as the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Also secondary school classes and colleagues at work sometimes celebrate it together. Olympia hosts the state's largest annual Earth Day celebration, Procession of the Species, a community arts-based festival and parade. After kids stop believing, families often continue to celebrate the holiday. Not surprisingly, Olympia also boasts a vibrant downtown bar district. Dutch and Flemish media, especially television stations, abide by a kind of informal rule never to deny Sinterklaas's existence, or at least not in programs broadcast before children's bedtime.

Olympia was recently named one of the best college towns in the nation. Some Christians fear that if their children discover them lying about the existence of Sinterklaas, the children may believe that they are lying about the existence of God himself. Because of the college's presence, Olympia has become a hub for artists and musicians (many of whom have been influential in punk, post-punk, anti-folk, lo-fi and other music trends (see Olympia music scene)). Others, looking back on their own experience with Sinterklaas as a child, consider that the enjoyment the children get is greater than a 'small' discomfort. "Scoop" Jackson's death. Therefore some parents tell their children from the start that all this Sinterklaas is just a fantasy, a game that people play, as they consider it an inappropriately bad example about telling the truth. Henry M. For some children, gradually losing their magic view of the world as they grow older and getting more and more suspicious about what their parents are telling them, it still may be their first big traumatic experience in life when their parents admit that Sinterklaas does not really exist....

Evans later served as president of the college, leaving Evergreen in 1983 when he was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by Sen. Also, most children can't think of a reason why their parents would lie to them. Evans. The atmosphere during celebrations can be very enchanting though, and many children really want to believe. In 1967,the state legislature approved the creation of The Evergreen State College near Olympia, mostly due to the efforts of Progressive Republican Governor Daniel J. Most children do suspect that Sinterklaas may not truly exist. Downtown businesses struggled to compete with newly constructed shopping centers when former downtown "anchor" businesses relocated to the outskirts of the city. At family gatherings where a stand-in Sinterklaas in a rented suit appears, parents have reported in advance to this Sinterklaas what the children have done good and bad and make it look like he knows everything about the children when the 'Goedheiligman' ('Good Holy Man') looks in his big book.

By the 1970s the local industrial concerns that supported working class families were on the decline. When children ask their parents how it is possible that Sinterklaas is at so many places, they tell them that those are assistant Sinterklazen. Damage in that quake was focused in older buildings and some roadways. The period between his arrival and December 5 is therefore very exciting. Olympia was the closest major city to the epicenter of the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, M6.8, centered approximately 15 miles northeast of the city. They think that he actually lives forever and that he comes from Spain, that he knows everything about the children and that his Zwarte Pieten do come down through chimneys. Subsequently, much of Olympia's downtown reflects mid-twentieth century architectural trends. The children, up to an age of usually seven or eight years, almost religiously believe in Sinterklaas.

Others were retrofit with new facades to replace the damaged Nineteenth Century wood and glass storefronts. But the presents may be too big or too many, so they have to be sneaked into the house while the kids are distracted. A significant earthquake in 1949 damaged many historic buildings beyond repair, and they were demolished. However, the European Parliament has issued a recommendation to ban chocolate cigarettes since they might promote future real smoking. During WWI and WWII there were also increased influxes of labor attracted by wartime industry including shipbuilding. Also popular are coins and cigarettes made out of chocolate. Scandinavian immigrants founded two cooperative plywood mills after WWI. These presents are often accompanied by a simple poem, saying something about the child or with a hint to the nature of the present.

Olympia also served as a shipping center for materials produced from the surrounding countryside, including sandstone, coal, and agricultural products. Typical presents include the first letter of the child's name made out of chocolate, a figurine of Sinterklaas made out of chocolate and wrapped in painted aluminium foil, coloured marzipan shaped into fruit, an animal or some other object. By the twentieth century, sawmilling, fruit canning, and other industrial concerns comprised its economic base. Some parents manage to 'convince' Sinterklaas to come to their home personally. Early on, extraction industries such as logging and oystering were the basis of much of the economy. Alternatively - some improvisation is often called for - the parents 'hear a sound coming from the attic' and then the bag with presents is 'found' there. Aside from its role as the seat of state government, Olympia was a fairly typical Pacific Northwest town. Later in The Netherlands adults started to give each other presents on the evening of the 5th; then older children were included and today in that country even the youngest take part in 'Sinterklaasavond' or 'Pakjesavond': children at home sing Sinterklaas songs and suddenly somebody will knock on the door very loudly, and when they go to the door a gunny sack full of presents is found on the doorstep.

Construction of the current Washington State Capitol began in 1912, with the prominent Legislative Building completed in 1928. Traditionally Saint Nicholas brings his gifts in the night and Belgian children still find their presents on the morning of December 6th. After Washington achieved statehood in 1889, Olympia continued to serve as the state's capital city. This practice however has been condemned by Sinterklaas, in his more recent television appearances, as something of the past. It was completed in 1878 and served as Olympia's only rail connection until 1891. Children are also told that in the worst case they would be put in the gunny sack that black Peter carries the presents in, and be taken back to Madrid in Spain, where Sinterklaas spends the rest of the year. Shaken by the slight, Olympia residents set to work building their own spur connector to the main line at Tenino. Given that the fictitious Sinterklaas comes from Spain, the Moorish dress of his helpers is noteworthy since Moors ruled over most of Spain for centuries.

In 1873, the Northern Pacific Railroad bypassed Olympia, choosing Tacoma as its west coast terminus. Some have actually gone so far as to replace black Peter by "green Peter" (a man in a Moorish dress with a green face). Upon his arrival in Olympia in 1853 Stevens declared it capital of the territory. The usual reply is that his face is black with soot. Stevens served as its first governor. In recent years some people have engaged in a recurring debate about racial aspects of the black Peter character: the Peter character may have been inspired by black slaves. Isaac I. Children are told that Black Peter enters the house through the chimney, which also explained his black face and hands, and would leave a bundle of sticks or a small bag with salt in the shoe instead of candy when the child had been bad.

A campaign by settlers to create a separate territory from Oregon resulted in Congress creating Washington Territory. However, with the advent of central heating children put their shoes near the boiler or even just next to the front door. The site was the northern end of the "Cowlitz Portage," the overland trail between the Cowlitz River and Puget Sound. Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and the 5th of December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it "for Sinterklaas's horse", sing a Sinterklaas song, and will find some candy in the form of a chocolate, marzipan frog in their shoes the next day, supposedly thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas himself. In a time when water travel was the easist form of transportation, Olympia's location on the main north-south route through the region made it a crossroads for regional trade. All Dutch national television companies have agreed to use the same actor to portray Sinterklaas; currently, the role is played by Bram van der Vlugt. Smith's untimely death in 1848 left Sylvester the sole owner of the land on which he platted the future townsite. Also, on the main day of celebration (traditionally December 5th) the Dutch version of Sesame Street the inhabitants of Sesame Street are visited by Sinterklaas as well.

Edmund Sylvester and Levi Smith jointly claimed the land that now comprises downtown Olympia. Over the years media attention has grown, while Sinterklaas is in the country the 'Sinterklaasjournaal' is aired every day, discussing his activities and any major 'problems' (which occur every year). American settlers came to the area in the 1840s, drawn by the water-power potential of Tumwater Falls and established nearby "New Market," now known as Tumwater, the first American settlement north of the Columbia River. His official arrival in a different town each year is televised on public television. In the 1830s the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at nearby Sequalitchew Creek (now Dupont) In the 1840s Catholic missionaries established a mission and school at Priest Point near the future townsite for the conversion of natives to Catholicism. Sinterklaas also visits schools, hospitals and shopping malls. Many tribes shared access to these resources, including Squaxin, Nisqually, Puyallup, Chehalis, Suquamish, and Duwamish. The children welcome him by singing traditional Sinterklaas songs.

The abundant shellfish in the tideflats and the many salmon-spawning streams entering Puget Sound at this point made it a productive food-gathering area. His Zwarte Pieten throw candy and small, round gingerbread-like cookies (Pepernoten) into the crowd. The site of Olympia was home to Lushootseed-speaking peoples for thousands of years. Each year in November Sinterklaas arrives by steamer 'from Spain', and is then paraded through the streets of the town he arrives in (actually in every town of the Netherlands), welcomed by cheering and singing children. . Sinterklaas has a long white beard, holds a long gold coloured staff with a fancy curled top in his hand (a crozier) and carries a big book with all the children's names in it, and whether they have been good or bad. In a metro area with the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, Olympia is the focal point of the South Puget Sound region and serves as a regional center for shopping, culture and entertainment. The frame shift to multiple Petes was more or less a direct result of the assistance provided by the Canadian army to the reception of the saint in 1945 Amsterdam.

The people of Olympia are called "Olympians." Olympia is the county seat of Thurston County. "Piet(er)" the name in use now can be traced back to a book from 1891. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 42,514. Traditionally Saint Nicholas only had one helper, whose name varied wildly. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. Today however, the more politically correct explanation that Pete's face is "black from soot" (as Pete has to climb through chimneys to deliver his gifts) is used. Olympia is the capital of Washington, a state in the United States of America. Their blackness was racial, with Pete being an imported African servant of Saint Nicholas since 1850 (though some people say Pete was a slave who, when Sinterklaas bought him his freedom, was so grateful that he stayed to assist him).

This racialization is reflected in the reworking of the character’s mythos. Although the character of Black Peter later came to acquire racial connotations, his origins were in the devil figure. Having triumphed over evil, it was said that on Saint Nicholas eve the devil was shackled and made his slave. During the Middle-ages Zwarte Piet was a name for the devil.

These helpers are called 'Zwarte Pieten' (black Petes). Sinterklaas wears a red bishop's dress including a red mitre, rides a white horse (called Amerigo) over the rooftops and is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dresses, dating back two centuries. On the evening of December 5, Sinterklaas brings presents to every child that has been good in the past year (in practice to all children). In recent years, Christmas (along with Santa Claus) has been pushed by shopkeepers as another gift-giving festival, with some success, although, especially for young children, Saint Nicholas' eve is still much more important than Christmas.

In this case, roles are reversed, though, in that Sinterklaas is the one who gives the presents. In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' eve is the occasion for gift-giving, when his alleged birthday is celebrated. In Luxembourg "Kleeschen" is accompanied by the "Houseker" a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit. In Slovenia Saint Nikolaus (Miklavž) is accompanied by an angel and a devil (parkelj) corresponding Austrian Krampuss.

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Mikuláš is often also accompanied by an angel who acts as a counterweight to the ominous Knecht Ruprecht (čert). These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist, although perhaps less violent than in the past. They wore masks and dragged chains behind them, even occasionally hurling them towards children in their way. In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (in reality, typically children of poor families), roamed the streets during the festival.

In highly Catholic regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behaviour and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod. These traditions were implemented more rigidly in Catholic countries such as Austria. In other accounts he would throw the sack into the river, drowning the naughty children within. In Switzerland, where he is called Schmutzli, he would threaten to put bad children in a sack and take them back to the Black Forest.

Knecht Rupert furthermore was equipped with goatlegs. But for many children, Nikolaus also elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, who would threaten to beat, or sometimes actually eat the children for misbehaviour. This has become more lenient in recent decades. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they "have been good" (sometimes ostensibly checking a book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behaviour basis.

If they were not, they will have charcoal in their boots instead. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good. St. Many children put a boot, called Nikolaus-Stiefel, outside the front door on the night of December 5 to December 6.

In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many Catholics, on the other hand, have adopted Luther's Christkind. The Protestant Netherlands, however, retain a much larger Saint Nicholas tradition. The Nicholas celebrations still remain a part of tradition among many Protestants, albeit on a much smaller scale than Christmas.

Since Nicholas was a canonised saint, Martin Luther replaced the festival that had become associated with the Papacy with a "Christkind" (Christ child) celebration on Christmas Eve. The history of the festive Saint Nicholas celebration is complex and reflects conflicts between Protestantism and Catholicism. Also his assistants, the Zwarte Pieten ('Black Peters') may be a remnant of the raven that accompanied Wodan. In the Saint Nicholas tradition in the Netherlands he rides a horse over the rooftops, and this may be derived from Odin's riding through the sky.

The appearance is similar to some portrayals of this god. Some elements of this part of the Saint Nicholas tradition could be traced back to the Germanic god Wodan (Odin). The American Santa Claus, Anglo-Canadian, and British Father Christmas derives from this festivity, the name 'Santa Claus' being a degeneration of the Dutch word Sinterklaas. Saint Nicholas Day is a festival for children in much of Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts.

As in the low countries oranges are generally believed to come from Spain, this led to the belief that the Saint lives in Spain and comes to visit every winter bringing oranges and other 'wintery' fruits. In a strange twist, the three golden balls referring to the dowry affair are sometimes misinterpreted as being oranges or other fruits. Depending on whether he is depicted as patron saint of children or sailors, his images will be completed by a background showing ships, children or three figures climbing out of a wooden barrel (the three slaughtered children he resurrected). Due to the episode with the three dowries, he is shown holding in his hand either three purses, three coins or three golden balls.

In Catholic iconography, Saint Nicholas is depicted as a bishop, wearing all the insignia of this profession: a red bishop's cloak, a red miter and a bishop's staff (crozier). Nicholas is a popular subject portrayed on countless Eastern Orthodox icons, particularly Russian ones. The holy person of St. Due to the modern association with Christmas, Saint Nicholas is a patron saint of Christmas, as well as pawnbrokers (see above).He was also a patron of the Varangian Guard of the Eastern Roman Emperors, who protected his relics in Bari.

This, and also his miracle of him resurrecting the three butchered children, made Saint Nicholas a patron saint of children and later students as well. or Santa Claus.. While the real gifts would only be presented at Christmas, the little presents for the children were given right away, courtesy of Saint Nicholas .. On the way back they would stop at one of the various Nicholas fairs to buy some hard-to-come-by goods, gifts for their loved ones and invariably some little presents for their children.

According to another source, On December 6th every sailor or ex-sailor of the low countries (which at that time was virtually all of the male population) would descend to the harbour towns to participate in a church celebration for their patron saint. According to one source, medieval nuns used the night of December 6th to anonymously deposit baskets of food and clothes at the doorsteps of the needy. Today, saint Nicholas is still celebrated as a great gift-giver in several Western European countries. In fact many of the aspects of the Saint Nicholas' celebration can be linked to similar features of the ancient Thor worshipping.).

(Scholars may discover some analogies to the Norse god Thor, who was also a common man's god compared to the more complex Odin. Therefore this time made Saint Nicholas a 'popular' saint in every sense of the word, more than all his miracles combined. At a time of holy wars and crusades the idea that one could go to heaven, even become a saint, just by the way one lived instead of the way one died must have offered a great deal of consolation for the medieval common folk. As described above, while most contemporary saints earned their place in heaven by dying for their faith in manners most unusual and cruel, both Nicholas and Martin lived peacefully to a ripe old age.

Many churches were named for them and later gave their names to the villages that emerged around them. In the middle ages, both Saint Nicholas and Martin of Tours were celebrated as true people's saints. He is also the patron saint of all of Greece. In modern Greece, he is still easily among the most recognisable saints and December 6 finds many cities celebrating their patron saint.

In centuries of Greek folklore, Nicholas was seen as "The Lord of the Sea", often described by modern Greek scholars as a kind of Christianised version of Poseidon. As such he has become over time the patron saint of several cities maintaining harbours. Among the Greeks and Italians he is a favourite of sailors, fishermen, ships and sailing. At a time where most saints earned their place in heaven by dying for their faith in manners most unusual and cruel, this definitely made him stand out (together with Saint Martin, who also died of natural old age) and definitely aided to his 'popularity' in every way of the word.

One of the most amazing feats of Saint Nicholas however was that he lived to a ripe old age and died peacefully in his own bed. Still, neither the church nor any scientists have ever tried to analyse the fluid, so truth still lies in the eye of the believer. It is however worth noting that the tomb lies at sea level in a harbor town so the occurrence of watery liquid can be explained by several theories. So even up to today, a flask of manna is extracted from the tomb of Saint Nicholas every year on December 6th (the Saint's birthday).

As the bones were stolen and brought to Bari, they continued to do so, much to the joy of the new owners. It is said that in Myra the bones of Saint Nicholas each year sweated out a clear watery liquid, called Manna, which of course was said to possess immense powers. Basil's feast day on January 1 is also considered a time of exchanging gifts. It should be noted perhaps that a nearly identical story is attributed by Greek folklore to Basil of Caesarea.

Nicholas. After he died, people in the region continued to give to the poor anonymously, and such gifts were still often attributed to St. People then began to suspect that he was behind a large number of other anonymous gifts to the poor, using the inheritance from his wealthy parents. For his help to the poor, Nicholas is the patron saint of pawnbrokers; the three gold balls traditionally hung outside a pawnshop symbolize the three sacks of gold.

In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plan and drops the third bag down the chimney instead. In one version the father confronts the saint, only to have Saint Nicholas say it is not him he should thank God alone. Invariably the third time the father lies in waiting, trying to discover their benefactor. Another has him throw the purses over a period of three years, each time the night before one of the daughters comes "of age".

One version has him throwing one purse for three consecutive nights. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him but being too modest (or too shy) to help the man in public, he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses filled with gold coins through the window opening onto the man's floor. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment would have to become prostitutes. In his most famous exploit however, a poor man had three daughters but could not affort a proper dowry for them.

Saint Nicholas, visiting the region to care for the hungry, not only saw through the butcher's horrific crime but also managed to resurrect the three boys from the barrel. Another legend tells how a terrible famine struck the island and a malicious butcher lured three little children into his house, only to kill and slaughter them and put their remains in a barrel to cure, planning to sell them off as ham. While the saint was praying, the loose-lipped sailor went around telling how courageously he was saved by the man Nikei-laos, upon which the church elders had no choice but to appoint Nicholas as their new bishop. At that time the old bishop had just died and the church fathers were instructed in a dream to choose for their next bishop a "man of victory" (Greek: Nikei).

In a colourful version of this legend, Nicholas saved the man on his voyage back from Alexandria to Myra and upon his arrival took the sailor to the church. According to one legend, as a young man Nicholas went to study in Alexandria and on one of his (sea) voyages from Myra to Alexandria he is said to have saved the life of a sailor who fell from the ship's rigging in a storm. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and is often called upon by sailors who are in danger of drowning or being shipwrecked. This last may seem strange for a man of "saintly behavior", but would fit perfectly with Nicholas' sometimes violent nature as reported at the First Ecumenical Council.

The review of the data revealed that the historical Saint Nicholas was barely five foot in height (while not exactly small, still shorter than average, even for his time) and had a broken nose. In the summer of 2005, the report of this measurements was sent to a forensic laboratory in England. Although jealously guarded and kept from prying eyes of scientists, especially with the still continuing miracle of the manna, the Roman Catholic Church allowed for one scientific survey of the bones: In the late 1950s, during a restoration of the chapel, it allowed a team of their own scientists to photograph and measure the contents of the crypt grave. Whereas the importance of relics and the business associated with pilgrims and patron saints caused the remains of most saints to be spread over several churches in several countries, Saint Nicholas is unique in that most of his bones have been preserved in one spot: his grave crypt in Bari.

Some observers have reported seeing myrrh exude from these relics. The remains arrived on May 9, 1087. Returning to Bari they brought the remains with them. Taking advantage of the confusion sailors from Bari, Italy seized the remains of the saint over the objections of the Orthodox monks then caring for them.

But early in his reign Myra was overtaken by the Islamic invaders. It would regain its control over Asia Minor during the reign of Alexius I Comnenus, (reigned 1081 - 1118). As a result the Empire temporarily lost control over most of Asia Minor to the invading Seljuk Turks. The battle ended in humiliating defeat and capture for Romanus.

On August 26, 1071 Romanus IV, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (reigned 1068 - 1071) faced Sultan Alp Arslan of the Seljuk Turks (reigned 1059 - 1072) in the Battle of Manzikert. According to this reasoning not even Constantius would risk a possible revolt by removing a popular bishop. This lack of disturbance by the Arian Emperor has been seen as indicating the strong support Nicholas had gained among the people of his territory. There is no indication that Nicholas was affected by these policies and he remained in his position till his death.

During his reign he strongly favoured Arianism by seeking to place Arian bishops in most positions. Constantius originally received the Eastern part of the Empire but the death of his brothers left the entire Empire under his control. Constantine was succeeded by his three surviving sons: Constantine II of the Roman Empire (reigned 337 - 340), Constantius II (reigned 337 - 361) and Constans (reigned 337 - 350). In fact Constantine was baptised by Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian bishop who had also attended the council, shortly before his death on May 22, 337.

In fact the tides soon turned and in his later years Arianism managed to win favour with Constantine. But the decisions of the council failed to stop the spread of Arianism. He is applauded by later Christian writers for keeping Myra free of Arianism. Following this apparent victory to his faction Nicholas returned to Myra.

To what point this decision was followed remains uncertain. The books of Arius and his followers were condemned to be burned but the execution of this decision was left at the hands of each bishop for their respective territories. The council lasted from May 20 to June 19, 325 and resulted in the declaration of the Nicene Creed and the formal condemnation of Arianism. They released Nicholas and allowed him back into the process the next day.

However, according to this account, that night the Virgin Mary appeared in a vision to many of the bishops of the Council, telling them to forgive Nicholas, for he had done it out of love for her Son. Nicholas was kicked out of the Council for this offence, and jailed as well. A later writer claimed that after Arius had presented his case against Jesus' divinity to the Council, Nicholas hit Arius in the face out of indignation. In any case Nicholas is usually counted among them and was noted as an opponent of Arianism.

The number of attendees at the Council is uncertain with Eusebius of Caesarea reporting as few as 250 and Athanasius of Alexandria as many as 318. Deciding to address the problem as a matter of the state, Constantine called the First Council of Nicaea which also was the first Ecumenical council in 325. Emerging fanaticism in both opposing factions only resulted in spreading tumult across the Empire. They would form the basis of Arianism.

At this time the teachings of Arius in Alexandria, Egypt were gaining popular support but also attracting great opposition. One of the apparent main reasons of this conflict was the failure to agree to a commonly accepted concept about God in general and Jesus in particular. But the relative peace of his reign brought to the forefront the internal conflict within contemporary Christianity. Under his patronage the Christian church experienced an age of prosperity.

Instead of tolerance, his policies towards Christians consisted of active support. The end of the war found the Roman Empire unified under the rule of Constantine. In 324 Licinius was defeated in a war against his Western co-ruler Constantine I of the Roman Empire (reigned 306 - 337). a church building) in Nicholas's honour in Constantinople, the Roman capital of the.

Justinian I, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (reigned 527 - 565) is reported to have built a temple (i.e. The popular veneration of Nicholas as a saint seems to have started relatively early. Nicholas is also known for coming to the defence of the falsely accused, often preventing them from being executed, and for his prayers on behalf of sailors and other travelers. Because the celebration of Diana's birth is on December 6, some authors have speculated that this date was deliberately chosen for Nicholas' feast day to overshadow or replace the pagan celebrations.

The destruction of several pagan temples is also attributed to him, among them one temple of Artemis (also known as Diana). As with other bishops of the time, Nicholas' popularity would serve to ensure his position and influence during and after this period. Judging from tradition, he was probably well loved and respected in his area, mostly as a result of his charitable activities. It is apparently in this period that Nicholas rose to become bishop of Myra.

In many cases they acted as the heads of their respective cities. As a result their community was allowed to further develop, and the various bishops who acted as their leaders managed to concentrate religious, social and political influence as well as wealth in their hands. Following Galerius' death his surviving co-ruler Licinius (reigned 307 - 324) mostly tolerated Christians. Nicholas survived this period although his activities at the time are uncertain.

The persecution of 303 - 311 is considered to be the longest in the history of the Empire. In the Eastern part Galerius (reigned 305 - 311) continued the persecution until 311 when he issued a general edict of toleration from his deathbed. In the Western part of the Empire Constantius Chlorus (reigned 305 - 306) put an end to the systematic persecution upon his accession to the throne. Following the abdication of the two Emperors on May 1, 305 the policies of their successors towards Christians were different.

Diocletian issued an edict in 303 authorising the systematic persecution of Christians across the Empire. Nicholas' early activities as a priest are said to have occurred during the reign of co-ruling Roman Emperors Diocletian (reigned 284 - 305) and Maximian (reigned 286 - 305) from which comes the estimation of his age. More likely this was a gradual process. This does not say, however, that his appointment to priest or bishop meant a complete rupture with his former life.

So was Saint Nicholas a working, albeit wealthy, man who complemented his day job with caring for his congregation, or was he a full-time bishop? The impressive list of deeds of Nicholas seems to point to the latter. When his parents died, Nicholas still received his inheritance but is said to have given it away to charity. More likely, however, is that one of his family businesses involved managing a fishing fleet. As the patron saint of sailors, Nicholas is claimed to have been a sailor or fisherman himself.

Nicholas received his ordination as a priest at an early age. The latter is said to have seen potential in the youth and took Nicholas under his patronage. Whatever the reason, as a young adult and scholar, Nicholas moved to Myra to continue his studies and there the above-mentioned uncle introduced him to the local bishop. Other sources place the death of his parents at the time he was already a young adult, leading him to a period of soul-searching which finally resulted in his uncle introducing him to Christianity.

According to some sources, his parents died while he was still a child, leaving a paternal uncle to care for him. He is said to have been born to relatively affluent Christian parents in Patara, Lycia, Asia Minor, Roman Empire where he also received his early schooling. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. Nicholas became bishop of the city of Myra.

Nicholas was born in Asia Minor during the 3rd century at Patara in the province of Lycia, at a time when the region was Hellenistic in its culture and outlook. Historial accounts often confuse him with the later Nicholas of Sion. Several acts of kindness and miracles are attributed to him. Among Christians, he is also known as the "Miracle Worker".

Nicholas' Eve. In the Netherlands 5 December is known as his feast: this is Sinterklaasavond, or St. His feast day is December 6, presumably the date of his death. 270 - 345/352), was a 4th century bishop and is a Christian saint.

Nicholas of Myra (also Nikolaus) in Lycia, Asia Minor (lived c. . Saint Nicholas is revered by many as the patron saint of seamen, merchants, archers, children, students, prostitutes, pharmacists, lawyers, pawnbrokers, prisoners, the city of Amsterdam and of Russia. Among Orthodox Christians, the historical Saint Nicholas is remembered and revered.

Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) is a major celebration in the Netherlands and in Flanders (see below). This historical character was the inspiration for a mythical figure known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas in the Netherlands and Flanders, which in turn was the inspiration for the myth of Santa Claus. This is as much as is generally known about him in the West. Saint Nicholas is the common name for Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Lycia (part of modern Turkey), who had a reputation for secret gift-giving.

See Christmas around the world for other information. Nicholas in English speaking countries. See Santa Claus for information about St. Nicholas's feast day.

Boy bishops were formerly appointed on St.