Dime for your Thoughts?

How did Santa Claus become part of Christmas? We all know the tradition of the wise men that brought gifts to the baby Jesus, but who is Santa Claus, and where did this story come from? Is he real? Santa Claus came from the patron Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas has a rich history as part of western culture and the his fame ties into the story of giving which goes with the spirit of Christmas.

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Saint Nicolas was born in Patara, a village in Lycia (modern day Turkey) in the third century. He was born to a wealthy family that it is said owned a fleet of fishing vessels. After his parents died he was left with the inheritance from their business.

Nicholas was a devout Christian like his parents and was made the bishop of Myra. He was a priest during the years of Christian persecution from 284 to 311 when Galerius, the Eastern Roman emperor, created a general edict of toleration for Christians.

During his time as a priest and later a bishop, Nicholas was known for his great generosity to the poor, children, and one who came to the defense of those that have been falsely accused of crimes. He often intervened in their executions. He is know as the patron saint of sailors and travelers, probably due to his experience as a fisherman.

One of his greatest deeds was how he would give a dowry (in the ancient world; money or property a woman brings to a marriage) to young women so that they could be married. Without a dowry it was unlikely a woman would be married and was usually sold into slavery. As the story goes the daughter of a poor man found a bag of gold in shoes left by the fire left to dry. The gold was tossed through the window and landed in a stocking. This is where the tradition of hanging stockings came from. Saint Nicholas is named in many stories of his great generosity to the poor.

So we know of Saint Nicholas the saint, how did the story of Santa Claus come about? When the Puritans came to America, they had a dim view of saints and therefore the legend of Saint Nicholas was forgotten. In the early 19th century The legacy of Saint Nicholas was starting to gain more popularity. On December 6, 1810, The New York Historical Society held its first St. Nicholas anniversary dinner. John Pintard commissioned artist Alexander Anderson to create the first American image of Nicholas for the occasion. Nicholas was shown in a gift-giving role with children’s treats in stockings hanging at a fireplace. In 1823 The Santa Claus legend was born. A poem by Clement Clark Moore titled ” A visit from St. Nicholas” today the poem is known as “Twas the night before Christmas”. The poem was written as a gift to his children and as we know today has become a part of western culture today. The poem is a story of a jolly elf from comes on the rooftop to deliver presents to children. Santa Claus rides a sleigh driven by reindeer. Other writers and artists through the years have changed the story.

This wonderful story of Santa Claus came from the great saint loved by both rich and poor for his kindness and generosity. Though not celebrated in the US and Canada, Saint Nicholas day is celebrated on December 6th in countries throughout Europe. Though St. Nicholas was originally buried in Myra, seamen brought his remains to Bari, Italy in 1087. A church was built on his new burial site. This is were his remains still are today. Many flock there to honor his great generosity and love of children, the poor, and the falsely accused.

Santa Claus was made famous by many artists and songs through the years. Including the iconic painting of Santa Claus drinking a Coca-Cola. In 1848 a drawing of Santa Claus by T.C. Boyd was made as a cover for the poem ” A Visit from St. Nicholas”. Norman Rockwell also painted a picture of Santa Claus reading the Saturday Evening Post. Probably the most know song is Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Many stories have been written about Santa Claus and St. Nicholas. Some modern stories include 3 movies titled “The Santa Clause” starring Tim Allen. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is a story of a teased reindeer that saved Christmas with his shinny red nose.

My 10 cents of wisdom

Saint Nicholas was a great man. Think of what it meant to those young women back in his time to be destine to be a slave one day, then mysteriously with a dowry they would be able to marry and live the life of a wife instead of a slave. I think the greatest thing that Saint Nicholas has given all of us is the lesson of what it means to give with nothing in return.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Clement Clark Moore, the author, was the professor of biblical languages at the Episcopal Seminary in New York.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

 

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This entry was posted on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 6:19 pm and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.