A TRIBUTE TO THE REAL ST. NICHOLAS
The story of a jolly man in a red suit who magically appears to children all over the world bringing gifts at Christmas time did not begin in the North Pole. The legend of the real St. Nicholas from whom our modern day Santa Claus emerged, has a story all its own.
Many ancient writings bear witness to the reality of St. Nicholas of Myra, born between 260 – 280 A.D. in the village of Patara, then Greece, now part of Turkey. He was a cardinal in the early church. Artwork shows that he was a small man who wore a flowing red robe and had a white beard and balding head. It wasn't just his physical appearance that caused him to become the model for our beloved modern day Santa Claus, it was who he was; a compassionate man who loved children and had a giving spirit. He was often seen carrying a bag of candy and small gifts. Children followed him, clinging to his red robe.
Nicholas was the son of very wealthy Christian parents who were always generous to those in need. Their hearts throbbed with a love for God and a passion to serve Him. They sent their son to school to study history and theology. When he was very young, he was given an opportunity to help a poor family. He dropped a sack of gold, no doubt provided by his parents, into an open window; then disappeared before being seen. This was repeated three times and is the origin of the symbol for St. Nicholas; three gold balls. One day, he was caught by the father of the family he was helping.
"Why have you given this
gift?" he asked.
"Because you needed it"
replied Nicholas.We've 'humanized' our Santa Claus. He doesn't give because of need or out of love, but as a reward for being 'good'. In some countries, Santa doles out punishment to those who've been 'bad'. The concept of 'grace' has simply slipped off the radar. Nicholas understood the things of God, that he gave us the gift of His Son, not as a reward, but because we so desperately need Him. Along with gifts of toys and candy, he reportedly gathered children together to tell them stories of Jesus, and the gift He'd given the world by dying on the cross, so all who believed could have a relationship with God.
When Nicholas was in his mid-teens, he experienced a personal tragedy; both of his parents died, probably the result of a plague. He took his large inheritance, cashed it into Roman coins, and distributed them to the poor. He gave it all away as a memorial to his parents and their lifetime of generosity. He went to live with an uncle who tutored him and then later he attended school in a monastery. He was very young, probably not yet in his twenties, when he entered the priesthood.
At this point in history, there was a
period of ten years when Christians were persecuted by Roman emperors. Those who would not abandon their faith were
tortured or put to death. Because
Nicholas was a church leader, he was put in jail. It is said that he was inspired by the Apostle
Paul and did as Paul did, sharing the gospel with other prisoners and guards in
the rat infested prisons. After his
release he was elected Bishop of Myra.
It was not uncommon for religious
leaders of the day to live a lavish lifestyle, but Nicholas was not a common
man. He choose to provide for others and
live simply, traveling though his district to drop coins into windows or into
shoes left on doorsteps of the poor. This
no doubt was the basis of the custom that lives on today of putting coins and
candy into shoes and 'Christmas' stockings. He never revealed his identity and
would disappear before he could be thanked. Sound familiar?
Now, hundreds of years later,
children, who are not obligated to listen to an inner voice that says,
"This can't be true!" eagerly await the arrival of a man dressed in
red, watch for deer with soundless hooves,
and enjoy the wonder of it all. As
you can see, the person of 'Santa Claus' is rooted in sacred Christian
tradition, despite the effort to make him secular. The endearing poem 'The Night Before Christmas', also known as 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas', written by Clement Moore in 1822,
redefined the image of Santa and is probably the source of the addition of the sleigh
and reindeer; Santa had to have a way to travel the world. Christmas isn't just a 'holiday'; it's a 'holy day' when we celebrate God coming to earth as an infant born in humble surroundings. An event foretold centuries earlier. The world was changed forever that night when the shepherds in the field looked up and saw an angel who announced His arrival; the Messiah had come! Persecution still exits; hold on to what your heart knows to be true! Santa Claus need not take 'Christ' out of Christmas, but be a reminder of a man from the third century who served with humility and shared God's love and joy of giving.
