Yes, Virginia, There Really Was a Santa Clause.

Up on the house top reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus!

Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All part of a little ones with Christmas joys
oh, who wouldn't go?

(Ho-ho-ho) who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop, click-click-click
Down to the chimney with the good St. Nick!


In our cultural memory, we know that Santa Clause and St. Nicholaus are the same person.  We remember through our songs and poems.  "Santa Clause" is an Anglicized version of the Norwegian "Scinter Klaus," Klaus being the shortened form of "Nicholaus" in the Norse tongue, and "Scinter" simply meaning "Saint."

So the next question is this:  Who was Saint Nicholaus?

Nicholaus was born to wealthy parents in the city of Myra, in Turkey, late in the 2nd Century.  After becoming a Christian, Nicholaus gave away many of his possessions to the poor and needy.  There's even a particular story of him tossing a bag of gold coins through an open window, which landed in a stocking which had been hung by the fireplace to dry.... the origin of our Christmas stocking tradition. The gold was to provide dowery money for a young woman who could not, otherwise, have gotten married.

Because of his passion for the faith and his generosity to the poor, Nicholaus was advanced to the station of Bishop of Myra while still a fairly young man.  Under the Christian persecutions ordered by Roman Emperor Diocletian, Bishop Nicholaus was beaten and imprisoned, yet he remained faithful to the Cross of Christ.

After his release, Bishop Nicholaus attended the Council of Nicea, in 325 AD.  One of the major issues settled at the Council of Nicea was the church's understanding of the Deity of Christ... that is, that Christ is God Incarnate.  One of those present, a man named Arias, presented his arguments as to why Christ was NOT God Incarnate, and during his presentation, Bishop Nicholaus rushed the stage and punched Arias in the mouth.  Arias is the father of the Arian Heresy, which holds that Christ was only a good man, but not God Incarnate, a belief held to this day by certain heretical sects.

Bishop Nicholaus wore the red robe and white mitre's cap, seen in this image, as part of his priestly vestments.  This was what the clergy of the region wore, and this is the origin of the red "suit."

Bishop Nicholas died on December 6th, and the day of his death was recognized as his "Feast day." Every Saint recognized by the Church has a "feast day," the most well known of which is February 14th, the feast day of St. Valentine. 

As with many great men, the story grows throughout history.  "Santa Clause" was re-imagined in the 1950s by a marketing executive for Coca-Cola, and much of the modern imagery around the character has little or nothing to do with the historical figure, but please remember that he was a real man, a devout Christian who loved Jesus as much as you or I.  Let's teach our children the truth, because that's what God requires of us. 

Peace of Christ to you.  Shalom b'Yeshua.  Merry Christmas.