St. Nicholas Day-- December 6 (PartB)

One Nicholas story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value — the larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

I like this part because my wife's German heritage includes sweet tasting goodies and small gifts today!

Here's my gift for you --
Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

(I use the shape of stockings and coins to honor Nicholas today!)

Ingredients:

½ cup           butter / margarine

1 cup          sugar

1           egg

1 tsp           vanilla

2-2/3 cups           flour

1 tsp           baking powder

½ tsp            soda

½ tsp           salt

¼ tsp            nutmeg

½ cup           sour cream

Recipe:

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.

Blend dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.

Roll ¼” thick on well-floured surface.

Use cookie cutters or glass lip (less than 3”).

Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes (less is better!)

Eat with cold, cold milk while they are soft and HOT!

St. Nicholas Day-- December 6 (Part A)

As Bishop of Myra, a seacoast town in southern Turkey, Nicholas lived the qualities that caused his fame and popularity to spread throughout the Christian world. His vigorous actions on behalf of his people and in defense of the Christian faith reveal a man who lived his convictions. His concern was for the welfare of his flock and his stand for orthodox belief earned him respect as a model for bishops and defender of the faith. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church.

Stories tell of Nicholas saving his people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, and much more. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. Today he is in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons: children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers!

In 325 Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicea, which was the first ecumenical council ever held. More than 300 bishops from all over the Christian world came to debate the nature of the Holy Trinity, one of the early church's most intense theological questions. Arias, from Egypt, taught that the Son Jesus was not equal to God the Father. This was the Arian controversy which shook Christianity's very foundations. According to one account, when confronted by the unyielding Arias, Nicholas slapped him in the face.

Other names in Europe: Germany (Nikolaus), Netherlands (Sinterklaas), France (Nicolas), Italy (San Nicola)

In celebration, check out posting "B" for today!

Ramon Paul Vardell - RIP

Ironic (?) that both my mother-in-law and uncle (both about 77) were hospitalized for months with infections of the abdomen due to complications from minor surgery.

My mother-in-law was home for three months before she returned for a repair. She is in the hospital again because of yet another infection, but it seems better.

My uncle never made it back to his home. Hopeful signs arose and he was a fighter (two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Marines), but in the end he succumbed to the infection. I was asked to help with the funeral and offered the Lutheran commital service. What joy and comfort. He now rests in God's hands. He was a great guy and well-loved, and that will be sorely missed. Ironic (?) that the Marine motto is "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful)); that was Uncle Ramon's life motto; now Christ will take up the "Always Faithful" banner, as the Lord promises to hold Ramon Paul firm until he is reunited with his loved ones.