Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower

"Six hundred and sixty years after Nicholas's death, Vladimir of Russia came

to Constantinople for baptism and carried back with him the tales of Nicholas.

Hence Nicholas was made the patron saint of Russia. From Russia his name spread

to the Lapps and Samoyeds, the people of the reindeer sleds, among whom his fame is

boundless. No doubt the story Santa uses reindeer comes indirectly from these people.

 When the Saracens conquered Asia Minor and laid waste to Lycia, the city of Myra was

turned into ruins. The people of Bari, on the heel of Italy, were greatly aghast that the good

St. Nicholas should be buried among the infidels. They, therefore, in 1087 sent ships and

stole his bones and brought them to their city, where a great church was built

to contain his remains. Venice also claims to have his bones at present."

-- from 1001 Christmas Facts and Fancies by Alfred Carl Hottes

'Gloomy night embraced the place

Where the noble infant lay;

The babe looked up and shewed his face,

In spite of darkness it was day!

It was thy day, Sweet, and did rise,

Not from the East, but from thine eyes.

Winter chid aloud, and sent

The angry North to wage his wars.

The North forgot his fierce intent,

And left perfumes, instead of scars.

By those sweet eyes' persuasive powers

Where he meant frost, he scattered flowers.

We saw thee in thy balmy nest,

Bright dawn of our eternal day!

We saw thine eyes break from their east

And chase the trembling shades away;

We saw thee, and we blessed the sight,

We saw thee by thine own sweet light.

Welcome, all wonders in one sight,

Eternity shut in a span,

Summer in winter, day in night,

Heaven in earth, and God in man!

Great little one! whose all-embracing birth

Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth.'

Summer in Winter, by R. Cranshaw, c. 1613-49

The Oxford Book of Carols, 1928

    Days 'til Christmas