The real "Santa"

I used to be anti-Santa, believing that he detracted from the supposed real reason for Christmas: the birth of Jesus. My dad handed me an article (http://www.crosswalk.com/1110600/page1/) about the origins of Christmas, which i found fascinating. Let me summarize.

A man of God, named Nicolas, arrived - by accident - in Myra, Turkey during the 4th Century C.E. He was appointed as a bishop and clothed in priestly (red) robes. Nicolas learned of an unsettling custom in Turkey in which families would sell their daughters into slavery, including prostitution, if there was no dowry. To remedy this tragedy, he went out on the night of December 6th and dropped bags of gold through the windows of these poor families (on one of these nights, Nicolas accidently dropped the bag into a stocking hanging on the hearth to dry). Though he did this in secretly, he was eventually discovered.

Then in the 9th Century, Nicolas was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, becoming "Saint" Nicolas. Over time and among different cultures and languages Nicolas was given many names: Father Christmas (England), Papa Noel (France), Christkindl or Kris Kringle (Germany), Sinter (Saint) Klass (short for Nicolas). Since Nicolas was believed to have come down from the chimney, Sinter Klass became Cinder Klaussen. The poet Clement Moore, using his poem The Night Before Christmas, turned Nicolas into the jolly, tubby, Santa Claus.

The tradition of gift-giving to the poor was continued with French nuns in the 12th Century. They travelled at night on December 5th - "St. Nicolas Eve"- delivering fruit and nuts. Some people still celebrate Christmas on December 6th. The Church decided (for some reason) to change not only the date of St. Nicolas Eve, but the name and type of celebration! Now most people buy presents for each other, rather than giving to those in need.

I wholly believe that we should celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But why combine St. Nicolas Eve and Jesus' birthday? Its tough for most people in their busy lives to devote a lot of time to give to the poor. Why not have a special day to plan for it? Isn't that what Jesus would want?


here are some other interesting articles:

http://www.realtruth.org/articles/461-actc.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2000/dec08.html