5162SaoNicolauRibeira
Children and two acolytes of St. Nicholas, patron saint of the parish of St. Nicholas, protector of children and mariners, wait for him during a stop, after arriving by boat to the Douro River, bringing bags of symbolic gifts to the delight of the children who were waiting, in Porto, Portugal, 2013. The familiar images of Santa Claus have obscured the historical Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, whose feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6 (Dec. 19 in the Eastern Orthodox calendar) in the early days of this Advent season. © Paulo Duarte