Many people have asked me, what was it like growing up in Eastern Europe around the holidays. When I get to tell the story, I usually begin with the word tradition. Eastern Europe is filled with very rich traditions which go back all the way to the 4th century and, some, even before that. One of those stories relates to Saint Nicholas. Most people who celebrate the holiday have done so already, on December 6th. Some celebrate it on December 19th, which is based on the old Eastern Christian calendar. The holiday goes back to a village in what was once Asia Minor at a time in which the area was Greek, today southern Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made the Bishop of Myra. This young man became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the many actual murderers, thieves, and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea. This was the first council in the history of the Christian church that was intended to address the entire body of believers. Nicholas died on December 6, AD 343, in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church where a unique relic called "manna" formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. For his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, Saint Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate life. In my viewpoint, he led a rich in the giving-of-self lifestyle.
Different cultures celebrate Saint Nicholas in authentic ways. For example, in Germany boys have traditionally dressed as bishops and begged alms for the poor. In Poland and Ukraine, for instance, children wait for Saint Nicholas to come and to put a present under their pillows provided that the children were good during the year. Children who behaved badly may expect to find a twig or a piece of coal under their pillows. In the Netherlands and Belgium, children put out a shoe filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas' horse. On Saint Nicholas Day, gifts are tagged with personal humorous rhymes written by the sender. In the USA, one custom is children leaving their shoes in the foyer on Saint Nicholas Eve in hope that Saint Nicholas will place some coins on the soles. In my home country, Romania, children put boots at their windows in hope that Saint Nicholas will bring them some goodies. I, personally, loved Saint Nicholas as a child. My favorite gift, believe it or not, was the sight of an orange. These fruits were an exquisite experience for me, since during communist times it was very difficult to get a hold of exotic fruits as such. My mother, always gave me a twig or two, too, because she said that "oricât de bun eşti, întotdeauna poţi să fi mai bun dacă înveţi din greşeli" which basically means "no matter how good you've been, you can always do better if you learn from mistakes." To this day this message remains central to my holiday experience. Most of us have made at least one mistake this year. With certainty, if we were honest, there are areas in our lives in which we can improve no matter how far we've come. Thus, to this day, I enjoy keeping the tradition alive in my home. But my Saint Nicholas has long ago told me, that he is a much healthier option than my Santa Clause. Well, there is more to it, so let me indulge in sharing with you why this is. At the bare minimum, you'll laugh a little and perhaps even be inspired.
Thus far, you've heard about the real history, the rich cultural diversity, and the value of compassion revolving around the Saint Nicholas Day holiday. But, you have not heard this story. Well, that's because I made it up. Even if you "heard" this story, Santa corrupted you against it. He has made you believe that candy in particular is really good, which is technically a big, fat lie. So why is my Saint Nicholas healthier than my Santa Clause? I will only share a few reasons with you, with the hope that it will serve as an inspiration to you.
Have you noticed that Saint Nicholas seems to be quite a bit thinner than Santa Clause? Part of that it's simply because he eats better. At least, the one that visits my home, he made that quite clear. In other words, he tries to eat more vitamin rich foods, take his once-daily multivitamin, and consume superfoods like organic cocoa and greens. This is because for him, foods with greater nutritional value are important. Another reason is, he needs a lot of energy because he likes to only use a sleigh to fly, from city to city. In contrast to Santa, he doesn't park on the rooftop and just slide his butt down the chimney. He parks in a central area and then walks by foot. He knows he cannot get lazy like that, as he will gain way too much weight which would be devastating to his heart health. In a nutshell, he is heart healthy. He has to be, for he loves children, thus, he has to have a healthy heart to fit in an astounding amount of love and compassion within. Lastly, he finds Santa's generosity to be not so "generous" when taking into account the enormous mountains of sugar found in processed sweets like in candy. This last one is horrifying, to Saint Nicholas. And that is simply because sugar in large quantities, like salt, it's horrible for the human body. Saint Nicholas is aware about the average amount of sugar he should consume in a single day and tries to stay disciplined about it. This is one of the reasons why he feels much younger than Santa, due to a more superior vitality.
Hopefully that made you chuckle a little. On a serious note, however, I want to tell you about one of the books which has made it on my top 5 favorite list of books I read every year. John Yudkin, a renowned physician and biochemist, in his book "Pure, White, and Deadly" once said "the liver is the most active organ in the body; every item of food and drink digested and absorbed into the blood goes straight to the liver." He goes on to explain the benefits of the liver, its incredible role it plays in detoxification from harmful food materials or those produced from metabolism. He highlights how sugar can enlarge the liver. In a study from 1949, it was shown that not only alcohol but sugar can produce fibrosis of the liver, an increase in "scar tissue" which precedes the development of cirrhosis of the liver. The study was influential because it was led by Dr. Charles Best, one of the people responsible for the discovery of insulin in 1921. John Yudkin was right to warn the public about the danger of consuming too much sugar. In his own words, "it is simply not good enough to tell people that they should eat fruits, or give their babies milk; there is a lot more to it than that." And, frankly, I believe it. Growing up, I noticed a large amount of sugar in my people's diet, more than perhaps most of us realized. And some of this led to real health problems for so many, it's baffling to think about. But, I will say that part of the reason why I became passionate about nutrition was because I realized I wasn't taught well about this topic, not as well as I should had been, despite the fact that my mother worked in the medical field for many years. I became very troubled by the medical system of the time, a time in which I noticed so much negligence, corruption, and illness. And, some of that wasn't intentional negligence but it certainly wasn't genuine health "care" either. Thus, I say these things not to point the finger to any one particular person, association, or group, but to simply state that without proper education on this topic, people will continue to suffer a great deal of problems. Thus, learning and educating ourselves on this topic should be not of a last resort but of first concern. I've read John's work so many times, my book is falling apart but here it is.
No, I am not the Grinch. However, before you go nuts this holiday season baking lots of sweets and giving them to others too, please stop and think to yourself for a moment if you could save a life from illness by promoting healthier alternative options, what would be best served on the holiday platters this season? Ask yourself, am I doing someone, including myself, a good? There is nothing wrong with breaking the rules, once in a while. But, if we do this too often, we will most definitely suffer because of it. Be inspired to perhaps do something different this holiday season, something maybe you never did before. For instance, if you must make your cupcakes then maybe make zucchini and carrot ones without creams filled with unhealthy coloring crap on top. And if you do celebrate this holiday, remember what the holiday spirit represents in your own life. As I close here, I want to come back to the title of my article. So, why is my Saint Nicholas healthier than my Santa Clause? It is because Saint Nicholas cared for others, had God in his heart, lived his life truly for a much greater cause and with purpose, ultimately reminding me of what this life should be about. This leads to a healthier mentality. I look upon the story of that once young man and know in my heart his life's sacrifices mattered, as they made a difference. Eighteen centuries later, I talk about his life as if he was right here sitting beside me, as I cherish the sight of an orange in my winter boot which will forever remind me that these simple pleasures make up the greatest of all gifts. Always value the past, love the present, and hope for the future.
~ Written for you with love, this winter holiday season ~
Carmen A. Cisnadean
Author. Artist. Poetess.