IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

By Linda Linonis

Rev. Nicholas Mancini shares his Santa Claus collection at church.

When your namesake is St. Nicholas, collecting Santa Claus figurines is the perfect pastime.

Just ask the Rev. Nicholas Mancini, who credited his grandfather of the same name, for getting him started in his hobby when he was a boy of about 10 years old. “I feel I have a great devotion to St. Nicholas, who also was devoted to the Infant Jesus,” Father Mancini said.

Father Mancini explained that his grandfather came to the United States from Italy in 1917. He brought with him a porcelain statue of St. Nick wearing a miter (bishop’s hat) and carrying a Bible. That statue, with its link to Father Mancini’s family and heritage, holds a treasured place in his collection.

But Father Mancini’s collection of Santa Clauses is more than a unique array of depictions of the legendary character.

The priest uses his Santa Claus figurines as a teaching tool when he talks about the collection to members of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, 252 E. Wood St., and St. Stephen of Hungary, 254 Wilson Ave., where he has been pastor for seven years.

The display is located at Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Youngstown.

In preparation for the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, Dec. 6, Father Mancini and parish member, Tim Wagner, spent a few hours unpacking, organizing and arranging displays of the Santa Claus figurines.

Father Mancini shares the story of the origin of Santa Claus in St. Nicholas with his parish members and religious education classes and other guests who visit the display.

At the Feast Day observance, Father Mancini said children were blessed and each received a candy cane. “The legend of the candy cane is that it is symbolic of the bishop’s crozier [staff],” he said, noting that the red color is symbolic of the martyrdom of Jesus and the white, the spirit of life and Jesus as light of the world.

Father Mancini noted that in his research about St. Nicholas, he learned that the saint is the patron of seafarers, scholars, bankers, pawnbrokers, jurists, brewers, travelers, perfumers, single women, brides, robbers and especially children.

St. Nicholas, the real person, was bishop of Myra in Turkey in the early part of the fourth century.

“St. Nicholas, the bishop of Myra, welcomed people into God’s house,” Father Mancini said. That’s the reason that Father Mancini positioned the largest Santa in his collection, which stands about three feet tall, in the back of the church. “It’s one of the first Santas people see and he is welcoming them,” Father Mancini said.

Wagner said the display case for the Santas was bought at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and its lighted shelves really accent the figures.

“St. Nicholas was known for his giving and caring spirit,” Father Mancini said. “That is behind the true spirit of Christmas … there is a religious basis. St. Nicholas started the gift-giving practice with the poor and needy.”

The priest said a well-known story about St. Nicholas tells how he helped a poor family who had no dowry to give their daughters.

“Legend is that St. Nicholas gave the family gold pieces so that the daughters could be married,” Father Mancini said.

The gift from St. Nicholas, Father Mancini said, enabled the daughters to marry and have families.

“St. Nicholas had a strong belief in families and how families united in prayer will find peace, unity and love and devotion to Jesus.”

St. Nicholas depicted a spirit of giving and was committed to the idea that “prayer, devotion and love lead to growth and understanding of faith and love of Jesus.”

The giving spirit remains a vital element in the Santa Claus legend.

Father Mancini said St. Nicholas’ mantra was focused on sharing, giving and being kind to those in need. The priest said by showing his collection for many to enjoy and sharing the legend of St. Nicholas, he is trying to follow the saint’s example.

Father Mancini’s collection totals 180, and he keeps track of the figures by numbering and cataloging each one.

“My favorite is a green-robed Santa. I like his expression,” Father Mancini said. “He’s nontraditional and carries a wooden staff and sack.”

He’s also partial to a blue-robed Santa figure. He said blue, often used in the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church, shows St. Nicholas’ love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of the Christ Child.

Father Mancini looks around for figures to add to his collection. And he receives Santa Claus figures as gifts.

“What’s fascinating is how St. Nicholas evolved.”

That is evidenced in the Santas from the around the world … Norway, France, Italy, USA, England and Australia and the various years the figures were made.

Father Mancini and Wagner arranged the displays of Santa Claus figure according to size and “what looks good together,” Wagner said.

The smallest is about 2 inches and the tallest, three feet. Santas wear an array of colors including white, dark and light green, purple, pink and blue, though red is the dominant shade. One Santa has an ornate crown and carries a staff topped by a star, a Greek-style Santa wears a gold robe, another carries a basket of apples, another holds a small church in his hand and his robe is decorated with a church scene and a Russian-soldier-looking Santa carries a staff and wears a tall hat decorated with holly. There’s a gold-bedecked Santa, a Santa holding white bunnies and a Hawaiian Santa in sandals.

Santas are made from wood, ceramic and porcelain.

There are Santas with short and long beards, some straight and some curly.

Father Mancini and Wagner arranged one display on the left side of the altar area. Another arrangement of Santas on the right side of the church, in the first few pews, seems almost like a Santa choir.

“We’ve been doing this about four years,” Father Mancini said. “I think the congregation appreciates it. It’s something to shared.”

The Santa Claus figures will remain on display through Epiphany, Jan. 6.

St. Cyril and Methodius has daily weekday Mass at 8 a.m., vigil Mass at 4 p.m. Saturdays and Mass at 10:30 a.m. Sundays.

Father Mancini said arrangements can be made for groups that wish to see the display. Call the church at (330) 743-5291 for more information.