The Saint Nicholas Bombay Box
This unique box was copied from Valhalla Designs from a box that the Andersons brought back from one of their trips to The Netherlands. Valhalla made the box from alder wood and purchased special tools that would form the box. The design by Jo Sonja, one of the leading folk artists in the world, was completely hand painted in professional artist acrylics by Cheri Anderson and took over three months to paint. Cheri has personally studied with Jo Sonja since 1979. There are several layers of painting and glazes on each scene. The painting is an interpretation of the style of the Russian Palekh painters.
The Legend of St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas has been known by several different names depending on the country one is from. He is variously known as Santa Claus, Samiklaus, Sinter Klaus, San Nicola, Pelznickel, Pere Noel, Father Christmas and Clawss, All of these can be traced back to Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint. There is a fourth century Christian icon of him. He is also known as the Patron Saint of Sailors and many stories exist about him. Many churches have been named for him, especially in the sea coast areas and areas where the Christian Orthodox religion is located, especially in Eastern Europe. His symbol of the three golden balls is from the story of his giving his wealth to three poverty stricken maidens for their dowry. St. Nicholas day is December 6th.
The Story on the Box
The Top of the Box: The internationally recognized Santa Claus. This depiction came from the United States in the 1800 and was developed by Washington Irving. “The Night Before Christmas” was written in 1822 and Santa’s reindeer came into being. His traditional red coat can be attributed to the Coke commercials in the 1930’s but originally Santa Claus wore a green coat..
Front of the Box: Nicholas is the Patron Saint of Sailors and is attributed to halting a storm at sea and saving three sailors from drowning.
Right Side of the Box: The Dutch Santa known as Sinter Claus. Here he appears on a white horse which is the original depiction rather than the reindeer. The Dutch were the ones who brought Sinter Claus to the United States where he became known as Santa Claus.
Left Side of the Box: St. Nicholas and the Maidens. He was originally a rich nobleman who gave his fortune to help the poor and the children. Our legend of the Christmas stocking originates in the three gold coins he threw in the window (or down the fireplace) where they landed in three stockings hanging by the fireplace to dry. This saved the three maidens from being sold into prostitution. Our tradition of placing an orange in the bottom of each stocking is a symbol of the gold coins that were tossed into the stockings hanging by the fireplace.
Back of the Box: The Frontier Santa: This Santa created special memories for the brave pioneer families traveling to new homes on America’s wild frontier where winter was a particularly difficult season for them. Hardworking families busy building barns and homes before winter rarely had much money or special food to celebrate Christmas. So Santa packed a bag full of very special but modest treats for the children.
Whatever the legend, Santa has always been known as a kindly person with a special heart for children and the needy. Gift giving at Christmas originated with God giving the gift of His Son, Jesus, so that we could have eternal life. It continues with the Wisemen presenting gifts to the infant Jesus of gold. frankincense and myrhh. St. Nicholas continues in this tradition with the giving of himself and his wealth to the poor and needy. So when children ask us, “Is there really a St. Nicholas?” We can answer yes and he lived in the third century and what a wonderful person he was!
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