The Inspiration that Kindles Kindness

Before and after Thanksgiving, and when the fond memories of childhood and holidays by the fireside tug at the heartstrings, many of the Marco Beach Boys and Girls fall into that old panicky dilemma and consider giving up paradise and heading home for Christmas. After all, most all of us that now call Marco, Goodland, and the Isles of Capri, home were snowbirds before we became flamingos, and for all of the newcomers that are craving the childhood hearth for the holidays, it is always comforting to find solace in the ultimate inspiration and the global traditions of the past.

Once upon a time, when the winter winds began to blow, and the December snowflakes began to gather, a group of Dutch settlers made merry in a waterfront city called New Amsterdam. The old burg today is New York City, but when New York was New Amsterdam and everything in America was new, the Dutch brought a shining gift across the ocean that seems to get brighter every year. Today in our tropical islands, the shining gift is never forgotten and when Christmas stories emerge like cherished ornaments from the past, the timeless birth and teachings of our Christ Child has always kindled kindness in the hearts of all our generations.

St. Nicholas was born in Turkey around 280 AD. He became a Christian priest and later a bishop. When St. Nicholas was young, he was a wealthy man who loved to travel. During his journeys, he became famous for helping others. He was a shy and gentle soul who always tried to evade gratitude as he bestowed his many gifts on the less fortunate.

One year, during a passage through Italy, St. Nicholas helped a poor man with three daughters. The man had nothing to give his three daughters on their wedding day, so late one night, when everyone was in bed, and the young ladies' stockings were hung by the fire to dry, St. Nicholas came in through a window and placed a little bag of gold in each stocking. The delight of the daughters the next morning became legendary, and with every gift he gave, St. Nick’s heartfelt passion for pleasing the young grew and grew.

For many years, St. Nicholas was the patron saint of storm tossed and shipwrecked sailors. He was highly acclaimed for being a defender and champion of young children, and he was well known for giving gifts to the poor wherever he traveled.

When the Dutch settled in New Amsterdam, they brought to life the legend of Sinterklaas, which is Dutch for St. Nicholas. The French revered Pierre Noel, and the English, Father Christmas. Every heritage celebrated a version of St. Nicholas, but as English became the language of America, children soon reshaped the tricky pronunciation of Sinterklaas into Santa Claus.

In Germany, Santa Claus has a partner. Whenever German children are told to be good, there is more of a consequence than no presents from St. Nicholas. In Germany, good children look forward to St. Nick, but the kids that haven’t been so good, worry about the Knecht Ruprecht. “Servant Rupert,” is the German Santa’s assistant and is a scary character dressed in black. He is also known as Black Peter from his efforts of climbing up and down chimneys and carrying bags of coal and kindling switches. If the children have not been good, “Servant Rupert,” fills the stockings with coal and whips the bad children with the switches. In Germany, Santa never goes anywhere without his alter ego and soot-tinged co-pilot.

In Holland, on December 6, Sinterklaas arrives on a sailing ship piloted by Black Peter. When Sinterklaas steps ashore, he is carrying a large book with all the names of the good children of Holland. Black Peter takes the bad children away!

In Italy, La Befana is portrayed by the good witch of the north. She dresses entirely in black and arrives on the 6 of January to bring all the good children of Italy presents for Christmas.

In Mexico and South America, all the children await the Three Kings to bring everything Christmas, but as everyone knows, the Three Kings are wise and know which children have been naughty or nice.

In England, Father Christmas is a thinner, more dignified Santa - thought to resemble Hugh Grant - but generally follows the normal Christmas Eve routine. He is, however, rewarded in Great Britain with a shot of whiskey and a slice of mincemeat pie for his efforts up and down the chimney.

Washington Irving, author of “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” was the first to describe Santa as a rotund and jolly Dutchman roaming the streets of New York at Christmas time. Thomas Nash of “Harper’s Weekly” illustrated cartoon versions of Santa in the 1860s and these images eventually became the Santa Claus we recognize today.

Santa’s ultimate placement as an American icon came in 1823 with the publication of the famous poem by Clement Moore “’Twas The Night Before Christmas”. Also published as “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” The visual descriptions created by “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” became the holiday tradition for parents and children all over America.

During the 12th century, a group of Italians brought St. Nicholas’s remains to the Italian port city of Bari. A church was built to honor St. Nick, and soon religious pilgrims began to visit the shrine at Christmas. With every year, the legend of the goodly saint grew and now the benevolence of St. Nicholas is a celebration of kindness that kindles good will all over the world.

This year, Marco Beach Boys and Girls, please don’t pout about missing the snowbird nest on the Christmas Eve, but instead take a moment to smile and remember a true inspiration of kindness: “He had a broad face and a round little belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.”

Tom Williams is a Marco Islander. He is the author of two books. “Lost and Found” and “Surrounded by Thunder - the Story of Darrell Loan and the Rocket Men.” Both books are available on Kindle and Nook.