Santa Claus IS Real!
Shawn Watson
Lead Writer/Co-Producer/Co-Owner Mo Valley Productions, video production services
His name is Nicholas and he’s a canonized saint.
Nicholas lived during the 3rdCentury AD in modern-day Greece. At that time Greece was under the rule of the Roman Empire.
He died on December 6, 343 AD. Since he entered into the heavenly kingdom when he died, we celebrate his feast day on December 6th.
When I was kid I remember finding nuts, fruits and other goodies in my shoes or boots on the morning of December 6th. I had to quickly dump them out so I could hurry to school. My mom did this every year.
How did this become a tradition of celebrating the saint’s feast day?
Nicholas was born into a wealthy, devoutly Christian family. When his parents died during an epidemic, he was sent to live with his uncle, a local bishop.
Nicholas was mentored and ordained a priest by his uncle. He held fast to his Christian teachings of love and generosity. He obeyed Jesus’ words “sell what you own and give the money to the poor.”
When Nicholas learned that local a poor man had three daughters. They couldn’t marry because he was unable provide a dowry. Nicholas snuck up to the man’s house during the night and threw a bag of gold into an opened window. He did this for all three of the man’s daughters.
Legend says that these three bags of gold landed in stockings or shoes. This led to the custom of children leaving out stockings or shoes for St. Nicholas to fill with gifts.
There are many legends about Saint Nicholas. Most of them are related to his kind generosity and protection of children. Therefore, he is known as the patron saint and protector of children. He’s also the patron saint of sailors, fisherman, Greece, Galway and Amsterdam.
Why is Santa Claus also called Saint Nick?
The legends and stories about Saint Nicholas grew through the ages, always about him showing the kindness of Christ. During the 16thCentury in Northern Europe, after the Protestant Reformation, the stories became unpopular.
However, someone had deliver presents to the kids at Christmas.
In England he became known as Father Christmas.
In Austria and Germany he was “Christ Kind.”
In the early United States he was called “Kris Kringle” (from Christ Kind).
Dutch settlers to the US brought the name “Sinterklaas” which morphed into “Santa Claus.”
Another derivation is “Santa” from “Saint” and “Claus” from “Nicholas.”
At the very least, remember this, he knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake.
Happy St. Nicholas Day and Merry Christmas from Mo Valley Productions!
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*Sources:
https://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/