St. Nicolas visits Schuylerville

The Saratogian ^ | 12/03/2006 | PAUL POST

[Alex Murphy]

SCHUYLERVILLE -- It isn't every day that a white pony and a red-robed St. Nicolas walk from storefront to storefront in this historic Hudson River community.

But this is a special time of year, as evidenced by the people who braved wind-whipped freezing temperatures to celebrate the area's Dutch heritage on Saturday.

After riding through village streets in a white horse-drawn carriage, the legendary St. Nicolas mingled with merchants and residents to see who's been naughty or nice during the past year.

'I've been good!' said Rachel Jagareski of Old Saratoga Books. 'I pay the rent, I keep the building up, I shovel the walks when it snows.'

She had fun meeting St. Nicolas because the mythical figure was played by her real-life landlord, K. Walter Grom of Greenwich. His visit, a children's lantern parade and Christmas tree lighting were among the highlights of this year's St. Nicolas Festival.

Store owners provided hot cider, cocoa and windmill-shaped cookies.

Accompanied by an accordion player, St. Nicolas led a small entourage singing Christmas carols into Old Saratoga Wine & Spirits. After sampling Gluwein, a traditional German Christmas drink comprised of wine and brandy, the group quickly changed tunes to the 'Beer Barrel Polka.'

'Santa,' musician Ralph Brooks asked. 'Why don't you get a chair and we'll sit here for an hour or so?'

Warmed by the hospitality of store owners Mark Cronhimer and Tari Izzo, revelers continued going from shop to shop spreading cheer and good will.

Grom, a German professor at Siena College and RPI, said the real St. Nicolas lived in Asia Minor during the 3rd century. More than a millennium later, in the 1600s, Dutch Catholics came up with the idea of a make-believe St. Nicolas who arrived by barge in Holland's canals, before riding a white horse to distribute gifts to those who deserved them.

'It was part of a counter-Reformation movement, to the consternation of Calvinists,' Grom said.

St. Nicolas Day is officially observed on Dec. 6.

'It's a special Dutch holiday,' he said. 'It kind of initiates the Christmas season, but it has nothing to do with Christmas day itself.'

Eventually, St. Nicolas laid the foundation for Sinter Klaas, which evolved into Santa Claus.

Unlike Santa, however, Schuylerville's St. Nicolas didn't have black boots and a bright red suit. Instead, he dressed like a bishop, wearing a miter on his head, while carrying a crook to rein in lost sheep.

St. Nicolas said he'd like to bestow a special blessing on Schuylerville: 'Continued good spirit and further economic and spiritual growth.'

According to Dutch tradition, St. Nicolas has a child guide named Piet, who distributes gifts to children. He had several of these helpers on Saturday, dressed in colorful head-to-toe costumes made by local resident Mary Roberts. Schuylerville High School students Lucy Danks, Hannah Squires and Faith Mannix were among those playing the role.

Cambridge triplets Taylor, Whitney and Mckenna Polich, age 9, provided a pure-white horse that followed St. Nicolas along the Broad Street sidewalk. The Welsh pony, named London Fog, recently came east following a long riding career in Colorado.

The mare is an early Christmas present for the girls, who take turns riding it.

'It's a democratic process to see who rides first,' said Tom Polich, their father.

[Alex Murphy]

...the real St. Nicolas lived in Asia Minor during the 3rd century. More than a millennium later, in the 1600s, Dutch Catholics came up with the idea of a make-believe St. Nicolas who arrived by barge in Holland's canals, before riding a white horse to distribute gifts to those who deserved them.

'It was part of a counter-Reformation movement, to the consternation of Calvinists,' Grom said.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

It was part of a counter-Reformation movement, to the consternation of Calvinists, Grom said.

I've heard this, too.

Some say this was also the motivation for creating a macabre holiday out of Halloween on October 31, the same day Martin Luther begin the Reformation by tacking up the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg church door.