The Real Santa Claus

Very Rev. Robert Anderson

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus; but he’s not a jolly old elf, does not ride around in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, and does not inhabit the North Pole.

Santa Claus is actually Saint Nicholas, an early fourth century figure who was bishop of a very poor diocese called Myra in the Roman province of Lycia. Myra was located in southwestern Asia Minor, near Demre, a small town in modern Turkey.

Nicholas was a great defender of the faith and participated in the first ecumenical council, which was held in 325 AD at Nicea. It was this council that clarified the Church’s beliefs about Jesus Christ and gave us the creed which we still recite today.

Nicholas was also famous for his charitable work and his great love for the poor. This holy bishop rescued many individuals and families from destitution. He tried very hard to not let his left hand know what his right hand was doing, but soon the faithful figured out who was quietly putting bags of money through their windows at night. So impressed was everyone with the love and humility of Bishop Nicholas that the faithful began imitating him by giving gifts to the poor. Numerous legends have since developed about the great charity of this man.

The feast of Saint Nicholas is on December 6^th and on this day in many countries he arrives dressed as a bishop and gives small gifts to the children. This custom is still followed in places like the Netherlands and Ukraine.

The present North American custom of having him arrive on the feast of the birth of Christ comes from New York City where the Dutch custom of having a visit from Saint Nicholas (the “claus” of “Santa Claus” is really nikolaus or niklaus) was combined with the English celebration of Christmas.

The present secularized parody of this very holy bishop was created in the 1940s by the Coca Cola Company, his purpose being, of course, to sell Coca Cola.

Candy canes are associated with Saint Nicholas as they represent his bishop’s crosier or staff. His symbol is three bags of money or three globes (this latter symbol has been adopted by pawnbrokers).

From the fourth century to our own, Virginia, is a long time, but in the end you see that Santa Claus was a Catholic bishop.