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| Santa Claus |
Based on articles by Rev. H. J. Heagney. Litt. D.; Norman Griffin; Fr.
Frances Weiser, S.J., Introduction and Compilation by Pauly Fongemie
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
There are several Saint
Nicholases, two of whom, found in many a Saints' dictionary is actually the
same Saint, that of St. Nicholas of Bari and Myra, because he was given the
first name last, since his relics are reposed there, and the second name comes
from his Bishopric see in Asia Minor. He is our subject here. But before we
present the true story of "Santa Claus" let us list some of the other
Saint Nicholases: St. Nicholas of Flüe, Patron of Switzerland; St. Nicholas of
Tolentino; and St. Nicholas I, Pope in the 9th century. St. Nicholas, of
Myra or Bari is venerated in both the Latin and Greek calendar of Saints on
December 6. He belongs to the fourth century, suffering under the persecution
of Christians waged by the Roman emperor, Diocletian, and is believed to have
worked a miracle in restoring three kidnapped children who had been dismembered
when he was the Bishop of Myra. Thus is derived his patronage of children. The
giving of gifts in honor of the Saint became a tradition through an act of generosity
in another matter as you will read below.
THE STORY OF THE REAL "SANTA
CLAUS"
Who is Santa Claus? Did he ever
live on this earth like other folk? Was he a real person? Yes; Saint Nicholas,
whose feast day is observed by the Church on December sixth, is the great and
good Saint who first acted the part of Santa Claus. How it happened is a real
Christmas story of very long ago.
It was the night before Christmas
in the great castle of a famous nobleman. No lights shone in the mansion and no
fires burned on the hearths in the lofty rooms. All was dark and cold and
desolate. The owner of the castle sat before the empty fireplace in the dining
hall, his head sunk in his hands. Upstairs, his three young daughters had gone
supperless to bed.
Despite the fine stone palace in
which they lived and the high rank to which they belonged, the nobleman and his
children were desperately poor. His entire fortune had been swept away some
time ago. The nobleman's thoughts were centered upon his children rather than
himself.
"What will become of my three
poor little girls?" he said to himself sadly. And, indeed, the future
seemed hopeless. Unable to work and with no means to support them, they had
nothing to look forward to. His pride would not permit him to beg the help of
the other nobles and he realized that the worldly lords and ladies of his station
in society would consider his family disgraced because they were no longer
wealthy.
Lost in his gloomy meditations,
the nobleman remained in his chair while the hours slipped by, unheeded.
Outside the streets grew deserted and silent. Everybody had gone home. Finally,
his head sank on his chest and he fell asleep.
Suddenly he was awakened at
midnight by a strange sound. Someone had hurled something down the chimney. The
mysterious package lay on the empty hearth before him. He jumped up and looked
wildly around. When he discovered the parcel he was afraid to open it at first.
Who could tell what it might contain or what enemy might have sent it rolling
down in that queer manner!
After a while his curiosity
overcame his fright and he cautiously reached out and picked up the object. It
was a large ball, securely tied. It was heavy and gave out a chinking sound
when he handled it. Quickly he untied the string and emptied the contents of
the ball. Imagine his astonishment and delight when he saw a pile of gold
pieces!
For a long time the nobleman
wondered who could have done such a kind deed to him and his daughters. But he
was unable to discover the identity of the unknown benefactor. The months sped
by and after a while the nobleman gave up all hopes of solving the mystery. In
the meantime his eldest daughter had married and he had been able to provide
her with a suitable dowry from the ball of gold.
Again it was Christmas Eve and the
nobleman had come once more to the end of his money. His daughter's marriage
had taken the greater portion of the mysterious gift and now he was faced with
the same hopeless prospects as before. Again he remained before the cheerless,
empty fireplace until sleep overcame him.
Then a remarkable thing took
place. Exactly at the stroke of midnight another Christmas parcel was thrown
through the chimney and landed on the hearth. The nobleman jumped up, wide
awake, and picked it out of the ashes. He could hardly believe his senses when
he found that it was another ball of gold pieces.
He rubbed his eyes as if he were
still dreaming. But no, there could be no mistake. Here was another small
fortune, coming to him out of the sky on Christmas Eve.
"Who among all the people I
know can be such a real friend in need?" he wondered. "Why does he
perform this kind act at Christmas time and in such a secret way? Whoever he
may be, God bless him and keep him!"
This time the count made careful
inquiries and discovered that he was not the only person who shared the charity
of the unknown benefactor. Many other people who needed help, especially the
little children of the poor, had received mysterious presents while they were
asleep on Christmas Eve. But nobody knew who it was that remembered them so
generously.
"He must be a Saint or an
Angel from Heaven!" they exclaimed.
The following Christmas the
nobleman again sat before the empty hearth in the castle dining hall but this
time he did not fall asleep. He was determined to discover who the mysterious
benefactor really was. When the midnight hour drew near, he was trembling with
excitement.
He was not disappointed. With a
loud thump another heavy ball of gold came down the chimney. He did not wait to
pick it up but ran as fast as he could out into the street. He was just in time
to see a shadowy figure climbing down the wall of the castle. He shouted to the
stranger to stop but he leaped to the earth and darted through the rear gate.
The nobleman had no intention of giving up so easily. He hurried after the
disappearing form at full speed. Down the street and around a corner he rushed,
calling at the top of his lungs.
Suddenly the figure darted into a
doorway but his pursuer made a final plunge and grasped him by one foot. The
mystery was solved at last He had captured the unknown!
"Bishop Nicholas!"
exclaimed the nobleman, falling on his knees. "So, it was you. I might
have guessed it could be none other. How can I ever thank you?"
"Say no more, my dear
son," said the Saintly bishop, who was overcome with confusion because his
good deed had been discovered. "Only promise me one thing."
"Anything, anything, good
Father Nicholas," said the nobleman, while tears of happiness and
gratitude flowed down his cheeks.
"Promise me on your honor
never to reveal what you have found out tonight."
The nobleman gave his word that he
would not tell but curiosity made him ask Saint Nicholas what prompted him to
perform his secret acts of generosity.
"Tomorrow is the Birthday of
the Lord," replied Saint Nicholas. Accept the gold as a gift for His
sake, Who for our sakes became poor."
For many years Saint Nicholas
continued his Christmas Eve custom, and not until after he had died and gone to
Heaven was the secret revealed. Is it any wonder that he has come to be looked
upon as "Santa Claus," who is the symbol of Christmas giving and the
Christmas spirit? As the Patron Saint of Children, Saint Nicholas has always
been and always will be loved by countless little folks everywhere.
Even as a child Saint Nicholas
showed every indication of his future Saintliness and nobility. He was the son
of wealthy parents, who brought him up to love and serve God. He was only a
youth when they died and left him to manage a large fortune. From the beginning
he devoted it to the poor, seeking out those who most needed help.
His good deeds won him renown far
and near but his humility was as great as his charity. He shunned popular
notice and performed his works of mercy in secret. In spite of himself, he was
recognized even in lifetime as a Saint and was appointed bishop of his diocese.
Saint Nicholas had a special love
for the small ones of his flock, who in turn loved him dearly. His great love
of the Divine Babe of Bethlehem inspired them with a like devotion. He looked
upon his wealth as a gift from God, freely bestowed upon him to be used for
others rather than himself. His example has come to us through the ages as the
perfect model of Christmas giving. His gifts were made for the sweet sake of the
infant Savior Who came down from Heaven on Christmas morn to bestow upon us the
priceless gift of Himself.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND THE
FIGURE OF SANTA CLAUS
The figure of "Santa
Claus" is not Saint Nicholas in disguise as some think. This is what
happened:
When the Dutch came to America and
established the colony of New Amsterdam, their children enjoyed the traditional
"visit of St. Nicholas" on December 6, for the Dutch had kept this
ancient Catholic custom even after the Protestant Revolution. Then, when England
founded the colony of New York in the same territory, the kindly figure of
Sinter Klaas (pronounced like Santa Claus) soon aroused the desire among the
English children of having such a heavenly visitor come to their own homes,
too.
The English settlers were glad and
willing to comply with the anxious wish of their children. However, the figure
of a Catholic Saint and bishop was not acceptable in their eyes, especially
since many of them were Presbyterians, to whom a "bishop" was repugnant.
Also, they did not celebrate the feasts of Saints according to the ancient
Catholic calendar.
The dilemma was solved by
transferring the visit of the mysterious man whom the Dutch called Santa Claus
from December 6 to Christmas, and by introducing a radical change in the figure
itself. It was not merely a "disguise," but the ancient Saint was
completely replaced by an entirely different character. Some clever mind
invented this substitution in the eighteenth century.
Behind the name Santa Claus no
longer stands the traditional figure of St. Nicholas, but the pagan Germanic
god Thor (after whom Thursday is named). To show the origin of the modern Santa
Claus tale, let us give some details about the god Thor from ancient Germanic
mythology:
Thor was the god of the peasants
and the common people. He was represented as an elderly man, jovial and
friendly, of heavy build, with a long white beard. His element was fire, his
color red. The rumble and roar of thunder were said to be caused by the rolling
of his chariot, for he alone among the gods never rode on horseback, but drove
in a chariot drawn by two white goats (called Cracker and Gnasher). He was
fighting the giants of ice and snow, and thus became the Yule-god. He was said
to live in the "Northland," where he had his palace among the
icebergs. The pagans considered him as the cheerful and friendly god, never
harming humans, but rather helping and protecting them. The fireplace in every
home was especially sacred to him, and he was said to come down through the
chimney into his element, the fire. (See H. A. Guerber, Myths of Northern Lands, Vol. I,
p. 61ff., New York, 1895.)
Here, then, is the true origin of
our "Santa Claus." It certainly was a stroke of genius that produced
such a charming and attractive figure for our children from the withered pages
of pagan mythology. With the Christian Saint, however, whose name he still
bears, this Santa Claus has really nothing to do. To be honest and historically
correct, we would rather have to call him "Father Thor," or some such
name.
Perhaps this will make it clear to
parents why it is so difficult to explain "Santa Claus" as St.
Nicholas. There is no basis for such an explanation; the two figures are
entirely different.
Considering the historical
background, it might even seem better not to tell the children at all that
"Santa Claus" is another name of St. Nicholas. Should we not rather
let them consider St. Nicholas their Patron Saint (December 6) and Santa Claus,
the delivery man of presents (December 24), as two completely unrelated
figures, as they really are?
The fairy tale of Santa Claus will
not be abolished easily, despite the efforts of well-meaning people. Nor does
it seem necessary. Children do like fairy tales, and Santa Claus is one of the
most charming of them. Catholic parents might use it without harm, provided
they apply some safeguards to avoid an undue over stressing of the Santa Claus
figure. Perhaps the following suggestions might help:
Keep the Santa tale in its simple,
appealing form and shun the corruptions introduced by commercial managers, like
Santason, Mrs. Santa Claus and similar repulsive features. Never allow the
figure of Santa Claus to dominate the child's mind. The Child Jesus must be the
main figure in all his Christmas thinking. Picture to him Santa as merely a
servant and delivery man, delightful but not very important. A mother had
explained this to her children. One day she pointed out to them how Santa Claus
was to be seen in every department store and how he drew so much attention to
himself. The children found it highly amusing that this delivery servant of God
should try to make himself the center of the celebration. "He is a little
dumb, isn't he?" said the girl, "but Jesus likes him and we like him,
too."
Do not let your children present
their wishes to Santa. If you want them to write down what they desire, let
them write to the Child Jesus, according to the old Catholic custom. Santa does
not give the presents; he only delivers what the Lord sends.
The above suggestions will also
help to lessen the "shock" when the children find out that
"there is no Santa." As one mother did when her little boy came full
of doubts and asked her if there really was a Santa Claus, such a question
should always be answered in truth-----no matter how small the child is.
"Of course not," said
the mother quietly, "that's only a story for very small children. You are
a big boy now, so you understand how it really is. Our dear Lord does not need
a delivery man. He has already given you somebody who loves you very much and
who is happy to give you the Christmas presents in His Name. Do you know who
these persons are?"
The child thought for a moment,
then he said, "Daddy and Mother?"
"Yes, my dear," answered
she, "and would you not rather that Father and I give you the presents? We
love you more than Santa Claus does."
"Why didn't you tell me that
before?"
"Because it is nice for
little children to believe in Santa. Aren't you glad you did?"
Again the boy thought for a
minute. "Yes, it was nice," he said finally. Then he added,
"But it's much nicer now."
Not every case can be handled
exactly this way, of course. There are various ways of doing it. However, by
following the general idea, parents will have no trouble in setting their
children straight about the Santa tale when the right moment comes. The descriptions
of great disappointment and psychological conflicts we often read about apply
only to families where the parents have misled their own children by allowing
Santa to take the central place instead of Christ, whose birthday is the only
reason for the whole feast.
In the web master's case she did
not tell her children about Santa Claus except to explain briefly how the
legend came to be and who Saint Nicholas really is. Our sons had no problems
adjusting as there was none to be done. I did tell them not to
"spoil" things for those children whose parents did otherwise, and
they never did.
–Catholic
Tradition. (For a true story of Christmas Day as the birthday of the Lord, see
also the piece: Christmas A Pagan Practice?).
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