In most modern-day depictions of St. Nicholas (aka “Santa Claus”), small elves accompany the generous bishop as he graciously hands out gifts to children. However, before elves were ever in the picture, angels followed the beloved saint as he visited houses on the eve of his feast day (December 6).
The origin of this tradition is difficult to trace as it is found in many different countries in Europe, most notably in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Poland. However, a depiction of the saint in St. Nicholas’ Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, reflects this idea, as noted in a description of the artwork of the lower church written in 1892.
Two angels on either side of S. Nicholas hold the purses wherewith he dowered the daughters of a poverty-stricken nobleman, thus saving them from a life of infamy.
So, the angels appear to be the original helpers of St. Nicholas during his life, assisting him in his secret gift-giving that helped save a man’s daughters from prostitution.
It is fitting for angels to be associated with St. Nicholas, as they are invisible helpers, whose spiritual power is beyond anything we could imagine. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, “The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being” (CCC 352).
Just as angels help us on a daily basis (though mostly unseen), we can say with complete faith and confidence that angels did help St. Nicholas before his death as well as after his death when he was admitted into the eternal embrace of Heaven.