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| Saint Nicholas: the man, the myth |
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There seems to be a lot of confusion about Santa Claus. And so, I've decided to provide some information to separate the man from the myth.
Saint Nicholas: the man
Saint Nicholas of Bari lived in the fourth century. There has been confusion between his life and that of Nicholas of Pinara, a sixth century bishop. Because there are so many legends, the details of the life of Nicholas are uncertain.
It is believed that Nicholas was born of wealthy parents at Patara in Lycia, a province in Asia Minor. He is said to have begun the study of Scripture from the age of five and grew up a very humble, innocent and devout young man. His parents died when he was a young man and he used his inherited wealth to provide for the needs of the poor.
When the Diocese of Myra lost its bishop, Nicholas was elected to the post and became famous for his holiness and compassion. Perhaps the most famous story about Nicholas's compassion and generosity tells of a man loosing his money and that his three daughters were unable to find husbands because of their poverty. When Nicholas heard of this he formulated a plan. As each daughter came of age for marriage Nicholas would secretly bring a bag of gold to the man's house at night and tossed it in the window. As a result the daughters were able to provide for a dowry and marry.
During the persecutions of the early fourth century Bishop Nicholas was arrested, tortured and imprisoned but before he could be martyred, Emperor Constantine came into power and released all the Christian prisoners. Nicholas returned to Myra where his strong teachings prevented the people of his diocese from succumbing to the Arian heresy. Some legends tell of his presence at the Council of Nicea where he strongly refuted Arianism but this is uncertain.
Another story speaks of innocent men being imprisoned wrongfully and invoking the help of Bishop Nicholas. Nicholas would go to the Emperor and procure their release, which is why he is today considered the patron of prisoners.
Nicholas is said to have died on December 6, 346 AD and was buried at Myra. His feast on December 6th has been celebrated in both the East and the West throughout the centuries. He is a very popular subject of iconography paintings especially in the Byzantine tradition. He is the patron of sailors and children as well as of Russia, Greece, Sicily and many cities.
How he came to be known as Nicholas of Bari is an interesting and peculiar tale. We know that Nicholas was buried at Myra in modern day Turkey but to explain the move from Myra to Bari I need to move a bit in time.
In 1009 AD Muslim invaders made their way into the crumbling Byzantine Empire in the East. Quickly, the Muslim people gained land and created a stronghold for their culture and faith that exists to the present day. Within a few decades of their immigration Eastern Christians and Byzantine rulers alike sent envoys to the West asking for help and with that the Crusades began.
One of the great fears of Christians was the destruction of their churches, shrines, and especially the graves of their saints and among these was the famed Nicholas of Myra. When Western Christians arrived at Myra and discovered Nicholas's grave they opened it, retrieved the casket and the earthly remains of the saint. They took the casket and remains, placed them on a ship, and set sail to Bari on the southeast coast of Italy. From then to today Nicholas rests in Bari although he is still known as Nicholas of Myra and Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Saint Nicholas: the myth
Now that the man is known, I turn my attention to the myth. The myth more commonly known as Santa Claus. For those who really want an in-depth history of Santa Claus and the various European concepts about Santa Claus I suggest you visit here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_of_Myra
Otherwise, I'll trace out the myth. There are several things about the myth that are based in reality, in historical fact. First is the title, Santa. Santa comes from the Latin, Sanctus meaning holy. It's the same word root that gives Italian and Spanish the title Santa or Santo for saint - just a word that identifies a "holy one". Second is the name, Claus. Claus is German shorthand for Nicholas. Third, are his red clothes. Historically (and even today) bishops wear red. The practical reason was that they were identified as royalty so they took the colors of royalty. The spiritual reason is that they should be visible to all and willing to shed their blood for the faith - hence red. Fourth, his floppy hat. The hat, when pulled up, goes to a point. The pointed hat of bishops comes from the days when their heads were anointed and they had their head bound with a linen strip which when wrapped produced a point in the front and back of the head and when tied produced two long strips on the back of the head (i.e. today's bishop's mitre). Fifth, the beard. It was and is customary in the Eastern Church that both married men and celibate (single/widowed) priests wear a beard - it means they are off limits. In the West this is signified by a ring (but the beard isn't as easy to hide). Sixth, is the giving of gifts. As noted in the history, Saint Nicholas was really a man of charity giving to those without resources.
Now here is how Saint Nicholas changed into Santa Claus. The Church, East and West, knew and honored Saint Nicholas. Because he was kind and good and wise everyone could identify with this grandfather-like bishop and they all remade him according to local culture. So the Germans said he was from their cold northern land. The French made him into a disciplinarian. The Britons made him into Father Christmas, bringer of good cheer. The Italians honored him as a sailor. And the Spanish - well the Spanish didn't know about him. Flash forward to the United States and he is created anew with the poem "Twas the Night before Christmas" - and with that the American myth of Santa Claus is made. This Santa Claus is the embodiment of all of Western Europe's images about Saint Nicholas. Now in good American fashion the only thing left to do was to market him and so the famous Macy's Day Parade is born and as we all know, Santa Claus is the last float in the parade and marks the beginning of Christmas. Shopping anyone?
One last piece to fit into this puzzle: Why do we exchange gifts at Christmas? I hate to burst the bubble but its not about Jesus or Christmas. The reason gifts are give is this: It was common on the feast of Nicholas (December 6) to give money, food, and clothes to the poor just like Nicholas did in his life. Nicholas of Myra really is the original "secret Santa". Nicholas gave gifts and worked miracles in Jesus' Name and never for his own glory. He only gave people what they needed, not what they wanted. Originally, gifts were given on Saint Nicholas's day (December 6) while the concept of giving gifts at Christmas is really a bastardization of the ancient custom of the early Church. And here's another part of the history made myth - who brings gifts at Christmas? Santa Claus.
A final note
We can't undo the myth of Santa but at least with the knowledge of the historical Saint Nicholas we might feel better this Christmas when kids ask: Did Santa come? Of course he did. Nicholas always comes to those who are hungry or thirsty or naked, the stranger and the poor, the sick, or the jailed because Jesus told him to take care of them, just like He told us to. But then, if you're not one of these then you probably don't need a present.
So instead of giving yet another useless gift to another spoiled child, why not take all that "Christmas money" and do what Christ asks - give it to those who really need it and let the spirit of Christ and testimony of Nicholas come alive in your home.
And remember Santa Claus without Christ is a fairy tale. Saint Nicholas with Christ is a sign of victory (Greek: Nico-laos)!
AMDG
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| To add a comment to "Saint Nicholas: the man, the myth" |
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| December 09, 2008 |
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i knew some of this, but interesting facts. here is a question though. why is Christmas now celebrated on the 25th. I have read that it was moved to help bring the pagans into church due to them celebrating winter solstice, but as is a usual custom, the church allowed the pagan to bring their customs and idolatry (tree decorating, miseltow, ect) with them into the church. |
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| December 09, 2008 |
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Fr. Vince, Thanks for the lesson. I plan to share it tonight with my boys at dinner.
God's Blessings,
pa |
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| December 09, 2008 |
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Pa - hope your boys enjoy the thoughts.
Gary - right, Christmas (Christ Mass) is on 12-25 and the earliest known history is that the Nativity was commemorated on the Philocalian Calendar which represents the Roman practice in 336. I spent some time explaining the history in Advent (Coming), previously posted. And right, almost everything we now identify as Christian was originally pagan. At Christmas, the trees, wreaths, mistletoe etc. all originate with the Germanic, Scandinavian & Norse tribes. They represented Druid belief but were "baptized" through Christian thought and practice.
Have a great day, v |
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| December 09, 2008 |
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but is it "right" to adobpt pagan practices and then call them Christian. Did not the Lord say to obstain from the practices of the pagans. Ancient Israel was always getting into trouble for adobpting the practices of the nations around them. |
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| December 09, 2008 |
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Hi Gary, good question.
The first commandment says to have no strange gods, no graven images, the OT kings mostly got in trouble for worshipping the neighborhood gods, and the prophets always warn against worshipping those gods. On the other hand the early Church took a by-whatever-means attitude in winning converts and they did it by christianizing their symbols. I am inclined to think that if they had not done that Christianity might not have made the same in roads into the barbarian and tribal people of Europe, and without their conversion there would not have been the missionary endeavors in the "new world".
By definition, churches are the offspring of pagan temples so do we dump churches? (Actually I support that notion in favor of home communities)
And then if we were to go down that path how do we define what's pagan or not? In Judaism there is a prohbition of all images, period, and if we adapted that then we could not make any images of Jesus or pictures of doves as the Holy Spirit. In Islam there is a prohibition against anything in nature so they don't even draw leaves or vines. Given modern culture is a computer the product of pagan society? If so, then we could not use one for church work but we have christianized it to teach Christ.
I'm just thinking out loud. What do you think about this? |
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| December 10, 2008 |
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This is what I think. Christ is more interested in quality than quantity. What comes to mind is the teaching He gave on His flesh and blood. When He told the followers that they would have to eat His flesh and drink His blood, there was a big falling away. John 6:53-56 If the Lord calls us to be holy, then are we not to be holy, and separate? We are to be a particular people, set aside. When He said to worship no other gods, then their symbols should be put out and we should have nothing to do with them. I will be a back-seat driver here.... How much better would the church be now, if the early church would have been stronger, and NOT have had the attitude of "by what-ever means?" I think we would have a stronger impact on the world, and even now the church is more of a stumbling block than a step up to Christ. The world looks at as and asks themselves why should they convert, the Christians are no different than the world, or at least a lot of it is.... I look at the Muslim religion and wonder why they grow at such leaps.. it is I believe because the world sees them as different, the Muslims ,make their followers live differently then they did before they converted... Where as the church says, you can stay the way you are.. (I know that not all churches teach this way, but the attitude is there, being a church nomad (going to many different denominations) I have seen this personally. Do we dump the churches because they are off springs of pagan temples... I think "yep". I have gone to home church for about 15 years now, have visited other buildings in that time though. Why would the churches want to move into these lavish temples? What comes to mind is that the Lord looks to the heart and motives. If the Word says not to have ANY graven images, why to we think we know better than the LORD. To go down that "road" is truly a deep subject, but remember what Christ said, narrow and straight is the path to salvation, and wide is the path of damnation.. Matt 7:13-14.. Any ways... my thoughts..... |
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| December 10, 2008 |
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As I read your comment I was reminded of the Church from the Apostles (33 AD) up to the Edit of Milan (313 AD). Throughout that period believers were exactly what you said: different. That was their great attraction because the pagans the Greco-Roman Empire saw them living a joyful and fulfilled life without buying into the culture of the day. It was after 313 that Church and State were wedded, and the two have been odd-bedfellows ever since.
Anyway, going back to different. There are several early works that identify just how different the Church was in those days and I read them a lot. Among the prohibitions was that no Christian could work for the government, join the military, or otherwise be involved with the State. Wow - how would that change American Christianity today?
One reference is "The Faith of the Early Fathers" Volume One by William A. Jurgens. That is actually a three volume work but only volume one covers that timeframe. Its amazing to me how different the Church is today than then - those people were on fire for Christ. You and they would be fabulous friends :)
So yeah, I'm rethinking what I said about the by-whatever-means thing. Maybe they should have taken a different approach. Interesting. |
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| December 10, 2008 |
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Gary and Vince...if I may join in here...
Various learnings I have done over the years suggest a slightly different take. I don't believe it was an issue of adopting pagan practices as Christian nor was it an issue of 'by whatever means'. It was a simpler matter of education and practical limitations.
The education was to explain that prayers or sacrifices to the Sun god where not the reason for the sun starting to appear again, but that instead it was the season of the beginning of the rebirth, given us by the birth of Christ Jesus. Messages at that time and among those hearing it were passed mostly by word-of-mouth. So the winter solstice becoming a remembrance of His birth rather than a time for Sun god became an educated transition from a pagan practice to a Christian practice. And I think any time we can replace one of 'theirs' with one of 'ours', that is a good thing!
The practical limitations are akin to the reason that students in America today still have a 9 month school year. That practice began when we were largely an agricultural society and kids were needed in the summer to help on the farm. If we look at most holidays and holy-days in our society today, they evolved around often practical matters and timing that fit the seasons. With no modern transportation, travel even in a local region was a multi-day event. So how many holidays/holy-days do we have in the summer months? Virtually none ...and the few we have are more recent (4th of July, Memorial day).
all just thoughts and personal opinion...worth every dollar you spent on it...lol |
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| December 10, 2008 |
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Thanks Pa -
hey, the more the merrier! Yes, the notion of practical limitation is a very different take. I hadn't thought about that, ever. Thanks! |
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