The Feast Day of St. Nicholas (The real Santa Claus!)

The Feast Day of St. Nicholas (The Real Santa Claus!)

Sermon Excerpt: Is Santa Claus For Real?  The True Story of Old St. Nick

Since the 1940’s in the US, and the advent of ubiquitous advertising and commercialism as being the height and breath of most holiday inspiration, we have been given the wonderfully sentimental, jolly old man who heads up the gift-giving season called Santa Claus. What he has become, the symbol of timeless generosity mixed with moral judgment, is not who and what he was in his earlier incarnations- yes, even Santa Claus had past lives!

What I will share with you now is a historical outline of the man, his message, and his meaning throughout Western culture, and especially Christendom. It is a fascinating account of how personas change, and ideals can, if understood, remain.

The legend of St. Nicholas, alias Santa Claus, begins in Myra, or Lyrca coastal town in Turkey, in the 300’s or the fourth century of the Christian era. As a popular saint, Nicholas is also the patron saint of Russia, primarily by the serfs. He acted as a protector and benefactor of the poor, weak, and the defenseless, for he was a bishop that truly cared about his people. he opposed the rich and the powerful and their tyrannies and their false gods. Another designation is that Nicholas is also the patron saint of Venice and for sailors, as he was reported to calm the stormy seas on his pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. One of the “weirdest?” or most outlandish patronage comes with his being named a benefactor to young boys who are in danger of being dismembered, salted in brine, and then eaten by the Sweeny Todds or the evil Innkeepers! (Shades of Daumer)

The most enduring, heartfelt and relevant story about the man who would become Santa Claus was his example of the highest form of giving or charity, which is always without recognition. The story goes like this: In those days, a young lady’s dowry was one of her most attractive assets for finding and securing a suitable mate. The richer girls had many suitors, while the poorer girls had a desperate time finding someone who would marry them, as then only through marriage could they improve their lives. 

In his village, Nicholas heard an especially sad story of wedding woes… Since young girls always had a special place in his heart because of their purity and innocence, when he heard the story of the three poor orphaned sisters who could find no husbands, and as a penalty, their guardians were going to sell them into the white slave trade, he decided to save them. 

One night, just before they were to be sent away with the slave traders, he left three round bags of gold by their door. In the morning, the three sisters found the gold, and became suitable spouses for many of the men in the village and nearby countryside. 

Later, when people were able to trace the owners of the bags, then the whole village acclaimed the generosity of this bishop. Some say that his gift was the origin of the three gold balls for the pawnbroker’s sign, as the first ransom or redemption that saved the three sisters.

In Europe, St. Nicholas does not appear on Christmas Eve, but on the feast day given to him, December 6th. He does not come down the chimney after everyone has gone to bed; instead, he rings the front doorbell, and walks right in after supper. Tradition has it that the original Nicholas was tall, thin and rode a scrawny horse, after the Dutch adopted him, and his popularity spread to England and there he became Father Christmas; to France, as Pare Noel: in Germany as Kris Kringle, and by many names in other parts of Europe. He became a larger than life figure. He became pictured as fat and jovial, and he does carry the customary bag over his shoulder, but instead of carrying expensive toys and gifts, he offers a far more modest treat- fruit and sweets. At that time, before the treats are given out, St. Nick questions the youngsters amiably but also firmly about the past behaviors and their future intentions. If he is pleased with the responses, he gives them some sweet treats and promises them something more on Christmas day. Then, on Christmas day, it is the Christ child that is associated with the larger gifts.

In the USA, we are most influenced by the classic poem,” Twas the Night” written by Clement Moore, and to a lesser extent by the famous question and answer to a little girl that appeared in the Baltimore Sun newspaper,” “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”. 

That, along with a popular cartoon rendition by Coca-Cola, of a fat man in a red suit enjoying some coke, we come to the amalgam of images and traits we call Santa Claus today. None of these poems or images refers to the Christian teachings. Instead, in a more secular and yet in a more inclusive and spiritual way, they reflect the diversity of beliefs among Americans, and the lasting belief in the goodness of unselfish giving and generosity that goes beyond material gifts and centers itself truly and lovingly in the abundance of the heart.