Original scientific paper
ST. NICHOLAS IN THE CROATIAN CATHOLIC, TRADITIONAL AND PHILOLOGICAL HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Marko Dragić
; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split
Abstract
St. Nicholas was the bishop of Miri in Asia Minor. Many legends are
connected to his person. He died on December 6th in 327. He was buried
in Miri. Due to the Turkish conquest, his body was transferred to
the Italian city of Bari, where his relics still lie today. He is considered a
protector of children, sailors, girls, poor people, students, pharmacists,
bakers, fishermen, prisoners, merchants, travelers, sick and dying people.
The cult of St. Nicholas is largerly spread among orthodox believers. He is
the protector of Russia.
St. Nicholas festivity in catholic traditional heritage is characterized by:
giving presents to the children, celebrations with procession, prayers, processions
on the day of St. Nicholas – visitations of St. Nicholas dressed in
bishop’s robe with a cane and a devil by his side with a basket, chains, rod
etc., to reward those who behaved, and to punish those who misbehaved.
In the honor of St. Nicholas many votive shrines were bulit by Croatian
people. The custom of burning boats on St. Nicholas day is rooted in pagan
rituals.
Keywords
St. Nicholas; giving presents; oral religious lyric songs; prayers; protector; processions on the day of St. Nicholas.
Hrčak ID:
229969
URI
Publication date:
14.12.2009.
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