Philoptochos Spiritual Enrichment Series

St. Nicholas

Indeed, Nicholas is known for his love. Being the bishop of the seaport town of Myra, in Asia Minor, Nicholas constantly prayed for the sailors and helped them in any way. His prayers have saved many in peril and for this reason he is the patron saint of seafarers and for this reason chapels were dedicated to him in seaports around the world.

And so the lore of Saint Nicholas began to spread and grow. He was known especially for his love of children and for his anonymous gift giving. In the 16th century, Dutch children would put out shoes filled with straw and a meal for the saint's gift-laden donkey. In return Nicholas would insert a small treat into each clog. During the Protestant Reformation, however, St. Nicholas was banished from most European countries and replaced with more secular figures, such as Father Christmas or Papa Noël. 

Much of the modern-day Santa Claus lore, including the reindeer-drawn sleigh, originated in America with the popularity of the poem "The Night Before Christmas" in 1822. It was in America, too that Santa put on weight. Cartoonist Thomas Nast's drawings for Harper's Weekly exhibited a gradual evolution of St. Nicholas from a tall slender, elegant bishop to the bearded, potbellied toy maker. And so today, most children do not recognize "Santa Claus" as a bishop and champion of the Christian faith. There is, indeed, a generous and loving feeling connected with the Santa Claus lore but Christ has been removed. Christ has been so much removed that even on His birthday, that is Christmas Day, it is Santa who dominates. One can't help but wonder how much this must sadden our beloved saint.

As Orthodox parents we struggle with what to do with Santa Claus. We want to teach our children that St. Nicholas is a Father of the Church and whose goodness and love come from his faith in Christ. The secularization of his personhood, however, is very hard to overcome and children can be confused between icons of St. Nicholas and images of Santa Clause in our home at the same time. If we refuse to do the "Santa-thing" altogether we find ourselves in a very tight spot with our kids and relatives. 

As Orthodox Christians our answer is always in the wisdom of the Church which teaches us to celebrate St. Nicholas on his feast day December 6 and to celebrate Christ's Birth on December 25. Some families hang their stockings along with the icon of Saint Nicholas on the eve of December 6. They put out a Lenten snack and kneel in prayer and anticipation for this loving saint. Indeed, this fulfills cultural traditions and allows us to focus on the coming of Christ--without the coming of Santa. Sometimes our children may ask why we don't do things like everyone else and we simply tell them it is because we are Orthodox Christians.

For more reading: The Saint Nicholas Secret: A Story of Childhood Faith Reborn in the Heart of a Father by Dennis E. Engleman (Conciliar Press) and Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things (Harper & Row).