The book of Saint Nicholas

A mid‑nineteenth‑century Dutch‑American chronicler invites listeners into his world of quiet reverence and playful superstition. He begins by detailing his lifelong habit of honoring Saint Nicholas—hanging stockings, awaiting the saint’s gifts, and even receiving admonitions when he strays from tradition. Through vivid recollection of dreams and visions, he paints a portrait of a protector who appears in the everyday moments of colonial New York.

From that personal devotion springs a lively collection of local legends, each stamped with the charm of early Manhattan folklore. Tales range from a mischievous bird in Nieuw‑Amsterdam to the origin of the baker’s dozen, from a ghostly encounter on a winter night to the saint’s dramatic ride on New Year’s Eve. Listeners will find humor, moral insight, and a snapshot of a bygone community bound together by the shared veneration of a beloved patron.