Santa is portrayed everywhere during the Christmas season, but do we truly know where one of the most well-known customs originated from? What do we reply when children invariably question, “Who is Santa?” We may use it as a teaching opportunity, just like we would with any question from our kids. Let’s examine the genesis of Santa Claus, the development of his meaning over time, and some of the customs associated with his name.
The origin of Santa Claus
The Dutch name for St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, is known in English as Santa Claus. The real St. Nicholas was a pious man renowned for his kindness and generosity, in contrast to the modern Santa Claus who is associated with a world of fiction.
The best guess places Nicholas’ birth in Patara, Asia Minor, in the year 280. Later, he was appointed bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. It indicates that Nicholas passed away around 343 on or around December 6.
Nicholas was born in the 3rd century to wealthy Christian parents in Patara (a harbor city in modern-day Turkey). It is probable that Nicholas and his parents could trace their spiritual heritage to the Apostle Paul, who stopped in Patara on his third missionary journey 200 years earlier.
It is said that Nicholas’ parents were devout believers who had long prayed for a child. When Nicholas was finally born, they devoted him to God. As an only child, he was raised with great affection and special attention. However, when Nicholas was still a young boy (likely a teenager), a plague struck his city, and both of his parents died. Though a loss like this might turn some away from God, it seems to have drawn Nicholas closer to him. The loss of his parents also seems to have made the boy’s heart tender to the suffering of others.
After receiving a sizable fortune, Nicholas made the decision to spend it to glorify God. Being selected as the Archbishop of Myra, a harbor city just south and east of Patara, when he was in his early 20s, a sign of wisdom and maturity beyond his years, shows he had established a strong reputation in his area.
During his service as Archbishop, violent persecution of Christians began. Nicholas was almost certainly imprisoned during this time and was likely tortured for his faith. The persecution that began during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian was carried on by his successor, Galerius, for a total of eight long years.
Interestingly, following Emperor Galerius, Constantine, the first Christian emperor, became the undisputed leader of the West. By 324 A.D., Constantine claimed leadership of the entire empire and declared Christianity a legal religion. Once persecution ended and Christians gained new religious freedom, they started to face new challenges. Serious disagreements regarding doctrine began to erupt. Constantine recognized the need for unity among Christians, so in 325 A.D. he summoned bishops from all over the empire to meet in Nicea and discuss critical doctrinal issues. Nicholas of Myra is listed among the bishops in attendance at this meeting. Little could Nicholas have known that his name would one day be more recognized than any other in attendance at this council that developed the famous Nicene Creed.
