From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus and SantaCon: Let’s bring back St Nicholas!

On a recent trip to NYC, where my wife and I took our adult children and grandchildren to see the Lion King on Broadway, we were confronted by a fascinating spectacle: SantaCon! We witnessed hundreds of young male and female, slightly intoxicated, Santa Wannabees dressed in “interesting” Santa costumes making their way from bar to bar. We have apparently moved from “Santa Claus is coming to town” to SantaCon! While perhaps a harmless myth, or a crazy party day, which in fairness does serve as a fundraiser for charities, we are now light years from the profoundly spiritual origins of Santa Claus.

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Due to my wife’s Dutch roots, we always celebrated St. Nick’s day on Dec 6; the anniversary of St. Nicholas’ death. Beyond the ritual, however, who was St. Nicholas and why was he a Saint? Born in AD 280 in what is now Turkey to a wealthy family, he became a bishop in the early church. By the renaissance he was one of the most popular Saints in Europe, was referred to as the Patron Saint of children, and known for his care of the poor. After the Reformation he became highly celebrated in the Netherlands where the celebration of St. Nick’s day on December 6th originated.

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So how did we get from St. Nicholas the bishop, to Santa Claus? In 1773 some Dutch families in NY gathered to celebrate and honor the anniversary of his death. They used a shortened version of the Dutch name Sint Nikolas to Sinter Klass. In 1804, a member of the NY historical society distributed wood cuts of St Nickolas with a background of stockings hung by a fireplace filled with toys. In 1809, Washington Irving, in his history of NY, referred to Sinter Klass as the patron saint of NY, and eventually this morphed into the modern commercialized images of Santa Claus.

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At the risk of sounding like Scrooge, I think it is time to get back to the profound lessons of St. Nick, and away from the modern image of Santa - the modern day patron saint of commercialism.

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So what did St. Nicholas teach us?

• Born into a wealthy family, he gave away much of his wealth and according to stories would throw stockings filled with gold through the windows of families in poverty so they would be surprised and helped. Hence where we get the image of “Stockings hung by the chimney with care”.
• He was an advocate for children and was known as the patron saint of children! He both worked for justice for children and according to one account, heard about three daughters in a poverty stricken family who were about to be sold by their father into slavery and so paid a dowry to their father so they could be free.
• In the midst of his generosity, he was an advocate for truth. According to some accounts, he was present as a bishop at one of the early church councils - the Council of Nicea - to advocate for truth.

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So in the midst of the holiday festivities and celebrations, practice the lessons of St. Nicholas!!

• Remember those who are struggling and be generous! While we probably shouldn’t throw gifts into open windows, there are numerous ways to practice generosity this season and throughout the year. Hunger and poverty are very real. Support organizations who are making a difference: local food banks, Bread for the world, The Heifer project, etc.
• Be an advocate for children: not simply by giving gifts, but by advocating for children’s needs around the world: for education, for food, for opportunity. Support organizations that support and advocate for children such as “Save the children”.
• Finally, in a postmodern world, stand for truth and justice and, like St. Nicholas, advocate for those who are struggling.

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In this festive season, move beyond Santa Claus and honor St. Nicholas. While Santa may bring cookies, sweets and toys that eventually break, St. Nicholas modeled a way to give gifts that last and make a difference; something our world desperately needs.