Today around the world, millions of people are celebrating St. Nicholas Day. Through the centuries, this figure has acquired many traits and stories and garb and even a new name. Behind it all stands an actual historical figure, a real person named Nicholas who lived in the 3rd and 4th century A.D. (about 270 – 343) in Asia Minor. He was known for his extreme generosity to the poor, for his compassion, and for how he helped people in trouble. He was also known for his fierce belief in Christ. He became a monk, a priest and later, a bishop.
Back in 1991, I discovered St. Nicholas and learned about his life. I also learned the fascinating story of how, in the years after his death, people told and retold his story and in the process expanded it to the point that he was given a new persona and name. These days he is known as Father Christmas, Pere Noel, der Helige Nickolaus, Wienachtsmann, Christkindl (Martin Luther’s contribution), Kris Kringle, St. Nick, De Kerstman, De Goede Sint, Sinterklaas and, of course, Santa Claus. I both honor the historic figure and enjoy including the transformed one in my celebration of Christmas. (Santa still fills stockings for me, my wife and whichever of our three adult children and their spouses are lucky enough to wake up in our home on Christmas morning and, of course this year, if our grandson is with us look for a ninth stocking on the mantel!)
I was so fascinated, so taken by the Nicholas story, I prepared a 20 minute presentation about his life. I wrote out a script in which the historic Nicholas himself told his own story. I even wore a St. Nicholas costume. I probably performed it only two or three times (for historical reasons of my own), but enjoyed the experience.
My goal with the Life Literary is to show and model ways anybody can add a little literary to life. Performing a historical or literary figure in the context of a meal or party or some other gathering is a great example of a Literary Event. Taking on a character is really just telling a story. You don’t have to come up with anything truly original, but just learn about whoever you are enacting. You could make it as simple as learning a few vignettes about the person and casually telling them to guests gathered around the table, or as complex as researching the person and his/her era and designing a costume and actually performing and in a way becoming the person. Either way it’s a literary activity, a literary event that can be fun and enriching for the person doing it, and entertaining and informing for those listening in.
Two of these are on my very long literary to-do list. I want to write and perform Robert Burns telling the story of his life. I also would like to write a 10 minute presentation of the life and work of Alfred Burt (look him up). I would perform these for church or community groups, or (especially with Burt) at Christmas parties or at the table after the meal is finished.
So go be St. Nicholas, or Charles Dickens, or J.S. Bach, or whatever character fascinates you. You’ll be surprised how fun and enriching it is and how other people will appreciate your work.
