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. I hope parents will read this story to their children so they'll understand Santa's Christian roots.
Many ancient writings bear witness
to the reality of St. Nicholas of Myra, born sometime between 260 – 280 A.D. in
the Greek village of Patara, which is now modern day Turkey. He was a cardinal
in the early church. Artwork shows that he was a small man who wore a flowing
red robe, 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 wealthy
Christian parents who were always generous to those in need. They had 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 'modernized' 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 been ignored. Nicholas understood the things of
God and 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
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 many 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 prison. 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 chose to provide for others, live simply and travel 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.