Do families today realize how Santa Claus evolved from Saint Nicholas? Could this help Christmas become less commercialized?
I used to play Saint Nicholas and present his story at Christmas markets designed to inspire giving to nonprofits helping the needy. There, I was astounded by how many Christian children and parents were unaware of Saint Nicholas’s relationship to Santa. But they loved learning about it.
Our secular Santa has been hijacked by marketeers to stimulate our desires and their money-making. He often seems different from the real Saint Nicholas, who represents kindness to children and love of neighbor.
Do not get me wrong. I’m a fan of jolly, red-suited and white-trimmed Santa. I love his twinkling eyes, rouged cheeks, flowing beard and rounded face as described in “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and pictured in Thomas Nast’s and Coca-Cola’s gorgeous illustrations.
Likewise, I have no problem with Santa’s message of joy and generosity.
What troubles me is that many people, young and old, perceive little relationship between today’s Santa and the actual Saint Nicholas, whose kindness targeted the poor. I dislike how history has been ignored as society has become more focused on the commercial aspects of Christmas.
So, what can those who love Nicholas and the real Christmas spirit do to help others better understand and personalize Santa as more than just a secular gift-giver?
How about helping others appreciate that Santa means saint? That Jolly Saint Nick really is the Americanization of the fourth-century “Boy Bishop,” Nicholas, whose name means “hero of the people.”
That Nicholas became a hero through his life’s work promoting generosity to the needy, especially children, and how this reflects the true meaning of Christmas.
What if Nicholas lovers like me encourage more families to learn about him? How he was an orphan from a land we now call Turkey.
How he used his inheritance from his wealthy parents’ deaths to help other orphans, and how he devoted his life to the poor, the sick and children facing challenges.
How about churches reenacting Nicholas’ history in December plays? For example, his imprisonment by Emperor Diocletian for his beliefs and his release by Constantine.
Or, explaining how European traditions and legends that developed from Nicholas’s fame were kept alive by early immigrants to America.
Wouldn’t some novel ways to take part in Saint Nicholas traditions be great? More children could set their shoes out to be filled with treats on Dec. 5, Saint Nicholas Eve. But they would do so in remembrance of Nicholas’ gifts to the poor and plan how they might help the needy too.
What if we helped children discover the universality of Santa Nicholas through his different names around the world? That his Brazilian name is Papai Noel.
That he is called the Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man”) and Holy Saint Nikolaus in Germany, Père Noël in France, Father Christmas in England, Kanakaloka in Hawaii, and Shengdan Laoren in China.
Families could make a game of quickly repeating his Dutch name, Sinterklaas, as children in early New York did, to grasp how Sinterklaas morphed into Santa Claus.
Kids might delight in learning that his Swedish helper, Jultomten, was one of Santa’s first elves. They’d be amazed that he is the patron saint of Greece, Russia, children, sailors, prisoners, travelers, unmarried women and merchants.
To demonstrate his evolution and timelessness, how about more factual, historical and engaging displays of artwork and period costumes featuring Saint Nicholas and Santa through the ages?
These would highlight how he was thinner and more solemn in his long robe, bishop’s hat and staff before the 1800s, and how he packed on the pounds and smiled more over the years.
Kids could also appreciate how Santa Nicholas adapted to the snow in early New York by riding in a sleigh wearing a warm, furred-trimmed coat — just like others did back then.
Maybe more families could tell stories connecting their hanging of Christmas stockings by the fire to the legend of Nicholas’ tossing gold coins through a chimney into three poor sisters’ stockings hung to dry.
Perhaps more children and adults could hear how even candy canes have roots as symbols for Saint Nicholas’ curled bishop’s staff.
All of us can emphasize how Nicholas was honored as a “Santa” (saint) because of his virtue and good works and that he stands for hope, joy and love of neighbor well beyond Christmas.
Finally, to augment the magic of Santa and Christmas, we could stress how all of us can become santas too through our kindness during every season of the year.
Mike McGrew is the author of the newly released picture book, “The Boy Who Would Be Santa” (Kharis Publishing).
