Santa Claus is coming to town but where is Santa Claus from?
St. Nicholas is a historical figure whose life continues to inspire acts of love, kindness, and generosity. Known worldwide as the inspiration for the Santa Claus of today, St. Nicholas was far more than a symbol of Christmas spirit – Nicholas was a bishop recognized for his charity and compassion for others.
Understanding the real St. Nicholas leads us to look beyond the red suit, sleigh, and reindeer to see the true meaning of Christmas.
St. Nicholas’s journey began in Patara, a coastal city in what is now modern-day Turkey. Born in the year 270 to Christian parents, Nicholas was immersed in the teachings of Christ from an early age. While Nicholas was very young, he lost his parents due to illness. The death of his parents brought a sizable inheritance into the young Nicholas’ life. Rather than using the inheritance for a life of ease, Nicholas chose a path of selflessness using his fortune to help the needy.
Nicholas’ remarkable piety and generosity led him to be appointed Bishop of Myra, a prominent city in the Roman province of Lycia. As bishop, he was a champion of his congregation as he dedicated his life to prayer, humility and service. St. Nicholas often risked his personal safety to uphold justice and protect the vulnerable.
Many inspiring stories of caring for others are attributed to St. Nicholas. One of the most well-known is the story of the three impoverished sisters. Their father was unable to afford dowries for their marriages. With no money to pay the dowries for his three daughters, his only heartbreaking option was to sell them into a life of servitude. When Nicholas learned of their trouble, he secretly delivered bags of gold through their window under the cover of night saving them from becoming slaves. This act of unrevealed generosity earned Nicholas a reputation as a protector of children.
Over the next few centuries, Nicholas’ fame continued to grow – especially his heart for children. This fame grew into a legend who would leave gifts for children every December. The story of St. Nicholas continued to spread in the Christian world and came to North America in the 17th century when Dutch settlers came to New Amsterdam (New York). At this point, many of the qualities of Santa began to emerge – Santa started making toys, had flying reindeer, and moved his operations far away from civilization to the wintry wonderland of the North Pole.
In 1931, Coca Cola began advertising Santa throughout the world pictured mostly as we know him today – a red suit and cap, snowy white beard, a big belly, and a big heart.
The spirit of St. Nicholas is alive and well within Santa as I go about my work. Santa continues to deliver gifts to millions of children around the world who believe in the kindness and generosity of the Christmas spirit. The life of Santa Claus reminds us of the generosity and compassion of St. Nicholas who continues to change lives and inspire generations.
“To say there is no Santa Claus is the most erroneous statement in the world. Santa Claus is a thought that is passed from generation to generation. After time this thought takes on human form.”
Charles W Howard
