So Where Did Santa Clause Come From?

The model for our modern day Santa Clause, can most likely be traced to an actual historical figure of the fourth century. Saint Nicholas was the bishop of Lycia in what is modern day Turkey. There is not much known about this man beyond that. However, in the Middle Ages, when the Roman Church began to venerate saints of old, many legends about St. Nicholas began to flourish. One recounted how he had given to each of three poor girls a bag of gold that they could use as a dowry. Therefore, they would not be forced to earn their dowry through prostitution. Another story told how he had restored to life three boys who had been cruelly killed. Because of stories like this, St. Nicholas became known as the giver of gifts and the patron saint of children. His day is December 6.

St. Nicholas was particularly popular in Holland. It seems that it was there that he first became associated with customs that eventually linked him to Christmas. The Dutch children expected this patron of children to visit them on the night of December 5. They would place their wooden shoes by the fireplace in anticipation of a visit from St. Nicholas during which he would fill their shoes with gifts. The name Santa Clause is the Americanization for the Dutch name, Sinterklaas.

By the time the Santa Clause tradition began to grow in America, American children learned that you could get more gifts in a large stocking than a shoe. And so hanging stockings by the fire place became the custom. But it was not until Clement Moore wrote his poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas in 1822 (a poem we now know as Twas the Night Before Christmas) that the legend of Santa Clause became a true American tradition.

Now some Christians want nothing to do with the tradition of Santa Clause, believing he takes too much attention away from Jesus who is the real reason for the season. Other Christians embrace the Santa tradition - some more so than others. My purpose today is not too list the pros and cons of including Santa Clause in one's Christmas tradition. But no matter where you stand on this issue, you cannot escape the presence of this man in red and white. He seems to be everywhere - from shopping malls to countless radio stations' holiday programing. Let me suggest that every time you see (or hear) Santa Clause this holiday season - think of the man behind the legend. A man who knew what it was like to give and give sacrificially. And consider following in his footsteps.

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj