I was told that St Nicolas who was born in Turkey was informed one day of a friends daughters who were going to prostitute themselves in order to support themselves as they had no dowry.
St Nicolas found out and one night he crept upto the window and left a gift of gold so they would not have to do that. Sounds beleivable to me.
2006-12-20 23:26:15 · 12 answers · asked by Jexf 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I always thought it was it was because of the gifts to Baby Jesus on His birth from the magi,but it isn't.I did some research on this,and it turns out that St. Nicholas left gifts for 3 sisters who had no dowry so they wouldn't have to prostitute themselves.The following years it done for children.Other countries had their own "St. Nick " type of person and when the story 'Twas the night before Christmas 'was written it caught on in the states.Christmas trees were at one time considered 'pagan'.We got them from the Germans.
2006-12-21 00:17:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, St Nicolaus threw the 3 sacks of gold through the window so they would have dowry's and able to marry.
Plus the fact that the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
2006-12-21 07:29:16 · answer #2 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was a Pagan festival celebrating the winter soltice, and the returning of longer days (light)
That's why we now have Christmas lights.
Christians stole the festival and renamed it Christmas.
The original tradition was to swap what goods you had left in your store, and share in the party.
Some people may have been lucky enough to have fruit left over, or some meat that was still edible.
The Magi have nothing to do with it.
It was a community spirit.
2006-12-21 07:39:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard that tale.
However, when Jesus Christ was born the three wise men went to see the baby and brought gifts. Now, tradition tells us that Jesus was born on Dec 25th. Thus we combine his birth with gift giving. However, if you had access to the old Jewish calander, Jesus was not born in Decemeber but in Septemeber.
I know alot of people dont want to hear that because we've been so brainwashed to believe that Christ's birth was in December but its just not true.
2006-12-21 07:40:55 · answer #4 · answered by DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about your story but it's true that St Nicholas did leave gifts on the doorsteps.As for your question,it must have been St Nicholas who started the tradition of giving gifts.
2006-12-21 07:31:34 · answer #5 · answered by Angelina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Farther Christmas was an old Saxon spirit who went from house to house and the people gave him gifts...somehow thst's got turned around. He was traditionally dressed in green
2006-12-21 07:30:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats what i've heard too. but my lines from my primary one school play - and this is going back quite a few years now - preseants are given to remember the gifts brought to jesus by the 3 kings.
never thoguht i would ever use those lines again.
2006-12-21 07:34:48 · answer #7 · answered by of_the_moon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We give gifts as a picture of the gift God gave mankind in His son Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, He provided the gift of salvation to all who will believe.
http://www.handlethetruth.net
2006-12-21 07:29:24 · answer #8 · answered by truth_handler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I should think the Gold, Frankensense and Mhyr must come into it somehow.
2006-12-21 07:27:37 · answer #9 · answered by Rich T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We Three Kings perhaps.
2006-12-21 07:33:48 · answer #10 · answered by Hove Andrew 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋