Okay, so I admit it. I’m 55 years old and I still believe in Santa Claus. Yes, I know that I am the one who wraps the gifts and places them under the tree. I know that I’m the one who diligently finds stocking stuffers and fills the stockings on Christmas Eve. Yes, I know that David is the one who drinks the milk, and eats the cookies, leaving just a few appropriately placed crumbs on the plate. And in spite of all that, deep down in my heart, I believe in Santa Claus. I’m usually quite practical and down to earth, but I love Santa Claus and after more than 50 years, I’m still not ready to give up believing in him.
It all started when I was little. Santa would phone on Christmas Eve…on one of those old brown wooden phones, where you had to crank a handle to “ring” the phone, and phone numbers were made up of long cranks and short cranks. Sometime before supper Santa would phone from his workshop and I could hear the jingle bells of the reindeer in the background and he would ask how I was doing and what I wanted for Christmas. And then shortly after supper, long before he began his rounds to the rest of the earth, Santa would appear at our door with the one big present we would get that year, usually something I really wanted. The last year I remember him coming, I think the year I was in Grade 3, he brought me a beautiful white Bible with a zipper around the edges to zip shut. I was thrilled. We’d open the rest of our gifts on Christmas Eve, just after Santa had departed. And then on Christmas morning we would discover that he had returned during the night to fill our stockings. Talk about magical and mystical.
Somewhere around the time of the white Bible Christmas gift, I figured out that Santa was actually Mr. Balderson, an across-the-field neighbour. For years, he offered the gift of his time on Christmas Eve to all the children on the farms around, phoning first and later arriving. I discovered that parents left the gift that he would give out on the porch steps for him to pick up as he came into the house. But the magic stayed, and I loved being part of the drama as my sister, five years younger delighted in Santa’s visit.
While I have my favourite Santa movies and stories – I especially love the “Santa Clause” trilogy with Tim Allen, I think it is the story of true Saint Nicholas, a deeply faithful and hugely inspiring man, which keeps my belief in “Santa Claus” alive. I highly recommend the novel and subsequent movie “Santa & Pete” which capture some of the history of St. Nicholas/aka Santa Claus and his motivation behind the Christmas giving.
The real St. Nicholas was born in what we now call Turkey, in the town Patara on the Mediterranean coast, about 270 AD. This was the time of the Roman Empire. Patara was in the Roman province of Lycia, a rich agricultural area. The seaport town was filled with craftsman and tradesmen. The cobblestone main streets would have been filled with the bustle of markets and travelers and vendors selling grains, fish, fruit, vegetables, chees, herbs, oils, wine, bread and pastry. This area was also known for its pottery, woodwork and glass blowing. Nicholas would have gone to school with the other kids, a typical Greek-style grammar school where lessons were written on slate with chalk or etched into a beeswax covered wooden tablet. He would have stood on the acropolis of the town and attended events at the outdoor Greek amphitheater.
Nicholas grew up in a family of tradesfolk, who were part of the small Christian community in Patara. Tradition has it that they were a wealthy family. Yet an epidemic swept through and both of his parents died when he was young. His uncle, a bishop himself, took in Nicholas and began to raise him toward the priesthood.
While Nicholas was young, the Roman Emperor Valerian, was benevolent toward Christians, but later in his reign, Valerian began to persecute Christians, having his troops destroy Christian churches and arrest Christian leaders. Tradition tells us that Nicholas’ family recognized his unique spiritual gifts from the time he was young. As a young adult, in spite of the Roman persecution of the church, Nicholas began preparation to take the vows of priesthood. Through this time, Nicholas took to heart the words of Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Nicholas was ordained a priest and served, as was common, in his own town of Patara.
There is a story that Father Nicholas learned of a widower, who was in the unfortunate situation of having to sell his children into slavery into order to pay his taxes and debts. Nicholas anonymously left enough money at the home so that the children would be spared this fate. As a priest, Nicholas would have performed many such acts of mercy to help unfortunate families. Perhaps he had a soft spot in his heart for the children, who were the innocent victims just as he once was. This care for children within the Christian community stood in contrast to the Roman custom of leaving unwanted infants outside to perish.
One of the most famous stories of Nicholas tells about how he helped a poor man who had three daughters. The man could not afford a proper dowry for the girls which meant they would end up as prostitutes. Under the cover of night, Nicholas threw three purses filled with gold coins through the window into the man’s house, and the girls were saved from their terrible fate.
After a few years as priest in Patara, Nicholas moved 50 km east to Myra, the provincial capital. In Myra, Nicholas was made bishop somewhere about 303-305. The job of Bishop was a demanding one, as the Church was the only hope for widows, orphans, the destitute and those who were ill. The church provided what we take for granted as government social services today. This compassionate and generous man was in the position to bring hope to those living in despair. At the same time, the persecution of Christians was on the increase, reaching a fury in 305 AD. For the next 8 years, bishops such as Nicholas, and other church leaders lived under the constant threat of death or imprisonment. Yet they held firm to the Way of Jesus. In 313, Emperor Constantine brought religious toleration to the Roman Empire. Bishop Nicholas, and other leaders, who had been imprisoned were finally released and could once again serve their people.
Bishop Nicholas became known for his devotion to God, his advocacy for justice and his care for his people. A Greek story tells of a time of famine in the region of Lycia. Bishop Nicholas took it upon himself to rescue his whole diocese from starvation. Ships filled with grain were often anchored near Myra, and Nicholas convinced captain after captain to leave some of the grain behind. And so he fed his people. Tradition says that, as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, so Nicholas multiplied the grain so that there would be enough for everyone.
People who had run away to escape the persecution and people who had turned traitor and helped the Romans made their way to Bishop Nicholas in Myra. Nicholas worked hard to help each and every person and to bring the traitors back into the Christian family. Nicholas was known for standing up for those who were falsely accused, for saving innocents from persecution and for shielding children from slavery.
Nicholas died on December 6, 343. When the Catholic church named Nicholas a saint, the date of his death was set aside as St. Nicholas Day. In countries such as Holland, this still is the day when gifts are given and “Santa’s” arrival is celebrated.
Yes, I still believe in Santa Claus. And I love the whole imaginative story of elves, reindeer and a one night around the world adventure. When I get up on Christmas morning, there is still part of me that believes that Santa filled those stockings. But more than that, I am inspired and challenged by the real St. Nicholas, who embraced the teachings of that child born so long ago in a stable, and made them the foundation for how he lived his life, caring for the poor, standing up for those unjustly accused, seeking better life for those in poverty and sharing compassion with traitors. He lived what Jesus taught. Yes, God came in Jesus that night so long ago but more than that, what Jesus lived and taught has inspired men and women like St. Nicholas to risk their lives and their reputations in order to love God and love their neighbours. The real miracle of Christmas is what has happened through people like St. Nicholas ever since.
Inspired by St. Nicholas, I fill my children’s stockings and find other ways to live as he did, sharing love and compassion and calling for justice. I’m happy to join his band of “elves” but more importantly I’m committed to the Way of Jesus, just like St. Nick!
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