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The Real St. Nicholas: Tales of Generosity and Hope from around the World

3 juli 2012

Edited and translated by Louise Carus.

214 Pages | First Quest Edition 2020. 'NAPRA Nautilus Award Grand Winner 2003'. | Softcover, with pictures | Quest Books, U.S.A. | ISBN: 9780835608138.

'While Santa Claus just brings toys, St. Nicholas changes lives and brings real joy'! 

The Real St. Nicholas is a jubilant celebration of spiritual values and the true meaning of the holiday season. Santa Claus is only a nickname. The historical Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop in what is now modern Turkey. Over time, tales of his goodness spread as far as Karelia, bordering Finland and Russia, throughout Europe. The Dutch brought him to the New World as Sinterklaas.

While slimmer than Santa, St. Nicholas is much larger in Spirit. He is the patron Saint not only of children, but also of sailors, bakers, bankers, prisoners, pharmacists, maidens, merchants and, New York City. But the traditions around him have been lost in America. Louise Carus restores this important image of the kind, wise Elder with rare stories from Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Russia and Armenia - among other countries. Most are simple folktales of powerful virtue. We hear of how Nicholas rescues orphans and soldiers, feeds the hungry, helps hapless lowers, outwits thieves and devils, and heals the ill and lame (including an ant!). An Afterword recounts modern legends of healing and rescue told by people living in Greece today.

The result is the best such collection available in English. It is a gift to all parents, educators, story loversm and others, who long to resanctify the holidays. There's a story for each of the thirty-one days in December, but The Real St. Nicholas can inspire us on any day of the year.

Louise Carus, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst and the editor of Betwixt and Between and Crossroads: two books on adolescent 'rites of passage' recognized as classics in the field.

From Chapter - 'Signs of St. Nicholas Today' (p. 191):

" A miller, Fragiadakis Mixales, who lives outside of  Zaros, Crete, told us this story about his daughter. It happened when the girl was about four years old and suffering from epilepsy:

'After my daughter had had several seizures, my wife took her to our nearby St. Nicholas monastery. She laid her down to sleep just at the entrance of the monastery under an olive tree and then went into the church to pray for her healing. When my wife returned to our daughter, the little one awoke and said: 'And old man with a white beard came and touched my hand and told me, 'You are well now''.'

My daughter never had another seizure. She is married now, with two children, and lives in Athens. This true story is well known in my community. "

While slimmer than jolly old Santa, the historical saint is much larger in character. Celebrated as protector of the wronged and patron saint of children, Nicholas is, in essence, a Western bodhisattva: an enlightened being who serves those in need. This book restores him as an important lost archetype of the Wise Old Man, clustering stories according to such appealing themes as rescuing, nurturing, outwitting evil, and healing. Louise Carus spent two years researching and translating material to bring us the best collection available in English. It will delight parents, educators, community organizers, story lovers, and others eager to decommercialize and resanctify the holidays. Indeed, the generous spirit of the real St. Nicholas can inspire us any day of the year. "Everyone who loves a good story will want to add this book to their collection. Parents will find family values and children will discover delight in goodness all through these warm tales." — Father Gabriel Bullock, OSB, St. Bede Abbey, La Salle, Illinois "In collecting this wonderful cauldron of stories, old and new, Louise Carus has done a great service to all who love the festival of Christmas. A much needed, "must read" book!" — John Matthews, author of The Winter Solstice

auteur: Carus, L.
ISBN: 9780835608138
Quantity

Prijs: € 24,00

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