Why does Santa Claus have a Merry Christmas?
Because he knows where all the
bad girls are.
St Nicholas is the patron saint of prostitutes. There was a folk tradition involving shoes left on the hearth overnight-- Père Noël brings gifts for the good children [and prostitutes]. I can't find a text version but here are two illustrations. In the first, Père Noël has left a young satyr. In the second, a bearded
putti offers a selection of wealthy clients.
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| Étrange Noël (Strange Christmas) by Henry Gerbault 1917 Le Sourire. |
A recursive reblog from Fifi's Tumblr
via Erosblog--
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| Prostitutes discovering their Christmas Gifts, French School, 1893 |
Icons and paintings often show St Nicholas with three bags or balls, symbolising the three bags of gold he tossed through the chimney of the home of the poor man for the daughters' dowry, so they would not be sold as prostitutes. Thus he is seen as the "gift-giver." (
CATHOLIC.ORG)
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| Saint Nicholas with 3 golden balls. |
