Who hasn’t wanted to meet the real Santa Claus? It turns out that you don’t have to travel to the North Pole to make his acquaintance; in fact, you’ve probably encountered him many times without recognizing him. The persona we know as Santa Claus is the spirit of goodness, kindness and generosity. We’ll get back to Santa soon but first let’s get to know where the man in the red suit got started.
“They err who thinks Santa Claus comes down through the chimney; he really enters through the heart.” – Paul M. Ell
The origin story of what we know as Santa Claus goes back thousands of years to a monk by the name of Saint Nicholas. Born in 280 AD in what is now Turkey, he was revered for his extraordinary faith and compassion. The legend goes that he gave away his inherited wealth and made it his mission to help others.
One of the most famous stories is about a father with three daughters. The man couldn’t afford a dowry for them and without it his daughters couldn’t be married. In the dark of night Saint Nicholas tossed coins in through an open window in the man’s house (some say it was down a chimney) and ran away before he was discovered, ensuring that the man had the resources for his oldest daughter’s dowry. He did this for each of the daughters and was caught by the father the third time. Nicholas begged the man not to reveal his secret, which led to the folklore that whenever anyone received a mysterious gift, it was said to be from Saint Nicholas.
As his popularity increased, Saint Nicholas became known as the protector of sailors and children. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6th, which is said to be an auspicious day to make large purchases or to get married. Over time, Saint Nicholas became the most popular saint in Europe and across the continent, his legacy of kindness inspired all kinds of traditions.
In France, children would leave their shoes out at night for Saint Nicholas, hoping to find them filled with chocolate and gifts in the morning. This tradition was accompanied by parades and celebrations, featuring plenty of sweets for the little ones. The practice of gift-giving began to take root in Germany and the Netherlands in the 17th century in the name of Saint Nicholas. The Dutch called him Sinterklaas, which over time evolved into the English Santa Claus. In England, Saint Nicholas was celebrated with a midwinter festival, where he was associated with adult pleasures: eating, drinking and making merry. Today, in England, Father Christmas is mainly synonymous with Santa Claus.
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” – Clement Clarke Moore
Over the centuries, as our world has changed, the core values of Saint Nicholas: joy, generosity and compassion have been embodied by the figure of Santa Claus, evolving from a revered Christian saint to a beloved worldly icon. The familiar red Santa suit evolved from the red and white robes Saint Nicholas wore as Bishop of Myra in the 4th Century. It was the American cartoonist Thomas Nast who created the jolly elf in the red suit we know today as Santa Claus.
“Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy.”
–American Publisher Edwin Osgoode Grover
The Santa Claus North Americans are familiar with reflects an interplay of religious tradition and folklore. Santa has a workshop at the North Pole and delivers gifts to children all over the world in one night, via reindeer and sleigh. While it’s a long way from the roots of his story, the spirit of Saint Nicholas is alive and well in the hearts of those who give without expectation of receiving. Thanks to global marketing and smart business the spirit of Santa Claus transcends cultural and religious borders today. Santa Claus enriches our experience of Christmas and reminds us that kindness, compassion and generosity are the greatest gifts of all. Whatever you celebrate this December, I invite you to emulate the spirit of Saint Nicholas. Let’s have more compassion for one another, be generous with one another and help one another whenever and however we can. It’s up to us to keep the spark of Saint Nick burning brightly in the world. Happy Holidays friends.