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When Saint Nicholas comes to mind, many imagine a cheerful, rotund man in a red hat who delivers presents on Christmas Day. However, the real Saint Nicholas was much more than just a jolly figure from the North Pole—he was an actual historical person.
Around 1,700 years ago, the real Saint Nicholas resided in what is now Turkey, serving as a bishop within the Catholic Church. The true story of this man is filled with extraordinary legends, some so bizarre they might completely reshape your view of Christmas.
10. He is the Patron Saint of Prostitutes
One of the most significant aspects of Saint Nicholas’s story is his role as the patron saint of prostitutes.
According to the tale, in the third century, a poor man from Myra had three daughters who were nearing marriageable age. Unable to afford their dowries, he considered the desperate option of selling them into slavery as prostitutes.
Upon hearing of this, Saint Nicholas decided to intervene without revealing his identity. Under the cover of night, he secretly entered their home and tossed a bag of gold into the eldest girl's shoe. When she awoke, she discovered the gold and was able to use it for her marriage.
Saint Nicholas repeated this act for the other daughters as they came of age. On the third occasion, their father caught him in the act. Nicholas made him promise to keep his identity and his actions a secret.
9. His First Miracles Happened While He Was Still in the Womb
Saint Nicholas’s first miracle occurred before he was even born, with another miracle taking place right after his birth.
His mother, Nonna, was elderly and had been unable to conceive. Some accounts even suggest that she was thought to be infertile. Nicholas's birth itself was miraculous, bringing life to a previously barren womb—and that was just the beginning.
While pregnant, Nonna fell gravely ill. However, as soon as Nicholas was born, he miraculously and instantly healed her. This remarkable miracle saved her life, giving her several more years to live.
Interestingly, Nicholas didn’t feel the need to repeat his miracles. As a young boy, both his parents fell ill with the plague. This time, Nicholas allowed nature to take its course, and both of his parents passed away.
8. He Began Fasting at Just One Week Old
Shortly after his birth, Saint Nicholas was brought to the baptismal font by his mother, where he performed his third miracle. In a tribute to the Virgin Mary, the newborn Saint Nicholas stood upright on his own, without any assistance. The legend says he remained standing for three full hours.
Even before he could speak, Saint Nicholas was known for his extreme piety. He would refuse to nurse on Wednesdays and Fridays, which were holy fasting days. He wouldn't even take a drop of milk until he was sure his parents had finished their prayers—making him the youngest to ever 'guilt-trip' his parents.
7. He Struck a Bishop in the Face
In 325 AD, Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea. He summoned 300 bishops from across the globe to discuss their differing views on the Holy Trinity.
Saint Nicholas believed that Jesus was fully equal to God. In contrast, Bishop Arius contended that God was the supreme being above all. The bishops quietly waited for their turn to speak, but Saint Nicholas, in response, boldly stood up and delivered his counterargument by punching Arius squarely in his heathen face.
Nicholas was imprisoned for his actions. When the Virgin Mary appeared and asked him why he was in jail, Nicholas responded, “Because of my love for you.” Showing her approval of his methods, Mary left him a Bible. Following this, the emperor had Nicholas freed, and the council of bishops sided with him, agreeing he was right.
6. He Resurrected Children
Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of children, and there's a rather strange story behind that—“The Tale of the Three Pickled Boys”—which is far stranger than you might imagine.
According to an old French ballad, three young boys knocked on the door of a butcher’s shop and asked for a place to stay. The butcher invited them in, then proceeded to kill them with an axe and stuffed their bodies into a pickle barrel. Apparently, he wasn't fond of children and couldn't think of any other way to get rid of them.
Seven years later, Saint Nicholas happened to visit the butcher's shop for a meal. He inquired about the barrel full of dead bodies, which the butcher had never bothered to remove from his home.
The butcher panicked. Saint Nicholas, known for his boundless forgiveness, told him, “Repent, and God will forgive you.” Then, he extended his finger, and the three children descended from Heaven, coming back to life.
5. He Was Only 152 Centimeters (5′) Tall
In 1953, a human anatomy professor opened Saint Nicholas's tomb and examined his remains. What he found revealed that Saint Nicholas didn’t look quite like the Santa Claus we envision today.
For starters, Nicholas wasn’t overweight, and he wasn’t tall either. He stood at just over 152 centimeters (5′), which, although typical for his era, made him shorter than average for modern standards.
Additionally, he likely wasn’t as jolly as the modern Santa. By the time of his death, Saint Nicholas suffered from constant pain due to chronic arthritis in his spine and pelvis, along with severe headaches caused by bone thickening in his skull.
Saint Nicholas also had a broken nose, likely from a punch he received while he was still alive. It seems that not everyone was fond of the jolly old saint.
4. His Bones Exude a Fragrant Liquid
After Saint Nicholas passed away, his tomb began to emit a pleasant, sweet fragrance. When the priests investigated, they discovered a mysterious white liquid leaking from his bones. This unusual substance is referred to as the “Manna of Saint Nicholas.”
Even when his remains are moved, the white liquid continues to seep out. Whether it’s a miracle or simply due to humidity, it’s undeniably present. The church collects the manna in vials, mixes it with holy water, and offers it for sale. In the past, it was marketed as a powerful cure-all.
Mozart once consumed the liquid from Saint Nicholas’s remains while on his deathbed. When his condition didn’t improve, he became convinced he had been given a vial of poison instead. This might explain his death, or perhaps drinking a mysterious liquid leaking from the bones of a Turkish man wasn't the best way to treat his illness.
3. Children Place Hay in Their Shoes for His Donkey
In North America today, we hang stockings by the fireplace and wait for Saint Nicholas to fill them with goodies.
Many are unaware that this custom has roots in an older Catholic tradition. Children would stuff their shoes with hay and carrots before bed, praying that Saint Nicholas would come during the night with his donkey. He would feed his animal with their offerings and, in exchange, leave behind fruits, candies, and toys in the children's shoes.
On its own, it's a charming tradition, similar to what we practice today. However, in its original context, it serves as a missing link that clarifies the origin of this beloved custom. The shoes directly reference the tale of Saint Nicholas providing dowries for three women.
So, when we await gifts from the cheerful Saint Nick, we're unknowingly continuing a longstanding tradition—one in which we hope a saint will prevent us from having to sell our children into prostitution.
2. His Bones Are Spread Across the Globe
While the majority of Saint Nicholas's remains are in Bari, Italy, not all of them stayed put. Small fragments of his bones have been removed and distributed around the globe.
For instance, a church in France possesses a finger bone, while another French church holds one of his teeth. A monastery in Germany has a similar relic. In Venice, they keep a collection of tiny bones that were gathered from the small remnants left behind by grave robbers in Turkey.
Throughout Europe, churches display various monuments to Saint Nicholas. One in Germany, for example, features a golden statue of Saint Nicholas holding up his own tooth, as though he had just extracted it using a string and doorknob—a sacred relic on display as a humble tribute to the saint.
1. His Body Was Stolen
Saint Nicholas was laid to rest in Turkey, where his body remained undisturbed for several centuries.
However, in 1087, a group of devout Italians, eager to demonstrate their faith, dispatched 70 sailors to Turkey. They broke into Nicholas's tomb, seized as many of his bones as they could carry, hurried back to Italy, put the relics on display, and charged visitors to view them. They claimed that this was God's divine plan.
Currently, the Turkish are attempting to reclaim Saint Nicholas’s remains.
“But they’ll never succeed!” declares Father Matera, the rector of the basilica where the saint’s bones are housed. According to Father Matera, Turkey is a Muslim nation, and Saint Nicholas’s relics rightfully belong in a Christian country that exemplifies the teachings of Jesus.
Additionally, they’re profiting handsomely by selling religious items in a sacred space. Saint Nicholas’s bones attract a great deal of tourism, and even more revenue. They’re selling 2-liter (2.1 qt) bottles of holy water, infused with the manna from his bones, for £160—just like Jesus would have done.
