St. Nicholas. From his cradle he is said to have manifested
marvellous indications of piety, and was therefore selected for the
patron saint of boys. (Fourth century.)
The custom of choosing a boy from the cathedral choir, etc., on St.
Nicholas Day (December 6th), as a mock bishop, is very ancient. The boy
possessed episcopal honour for three weeks, and the rest of the choir
were his prebendaries. If he died during the time of his prelacy, he
was buried in pontificalibus. Probably the reference is to Jesus
Christ sitting in the Temple among the doctors while He was a boy. The
custom was abolished in the reign of Henry VIII.
Boy in buttons
(A). (See Buttons.)
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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