Who Is Santa Claus?

Should he be part of Christmas Celebration?

 

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Santa Claus is a legendary and folklore figure generally depicted as a loving, kind, jolly old man with a white beard and mustache. He is usually seen clothed with a red coat, white collar, and cuffs, red trousers, and black leather boots and belt. He carries a large bag full of gifts and goodies for children.

The image of Santa Clause became popular in the USA and Canada in the 19th century mainly due to the influence of the 1823 poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and through a cartoon image created by Thomas Nast.

The creation of Santa Claus is based partly on a wonderful Christian man named Saint Nicholas (from a city on the south coast of Turkey) who lived in the 4th century.

Nicholas grew up in a Christian home. When his parents died, they left him an inheritance that he gave to the poor. He became a priest at a young age and was known for his kind heart, compassion, and great generosity. He had a reputation for anonymously and secretly giving gifts, and he would throw bags of money into the homes of the poor (and sometimes down their chimneys) at night to avoid being seen.

Nicholas passed away in the 340s or 350s AD on December 6. The day of his death became an annual feast in many European countries. The children would put out food for Nicholas and straw for his donkey. They were told that the saint would come down from heaven during the night and replace the food and straw with toys and goodies—if they were good boys and girls. The legends of Saint Nicholas, are the inspiration for the jolly, gift-giver that we now know as Santa Claus.

What Should Parents Tell Their Children?

Many Christian parents are undecided as to whether or not they should play the imaginary "Santa Game" with their children. On one hand, Santa makes Christmas fun, adding flavor and emphasizing the value of generosity and good behavior, leaving wonderful holiday memories for the children. On the other hand, the focus of Christmas should be on Jesus Christ, the celebration of His miracle conception and birth, and His extravagant gift of eternal life. So, is the story of Santa Claus an innocent addition to Christmas festivities, or is this character a distraction to true celebration?

Parents need to use their own judgment in deciding whether or not to include Santa during the holidays, but here are some things to consider:

If parents present Santa Claus as a true, magical, super human, with unending resources, there will be a point when the children discover that what their parents told them was a lie – a fabrication. This could greatly hinder their belief in the supernatural and in the true, invisible, eternal, God, Jesus Christ (as well as the possibility of breaking their trust in their parent’s word). They might think that Jesus is just a story also.

It is also a dangerous possibility that children might idolize the pretend Santa Claus believing that he is an answer to the fulfillment of their desires.

The real celebration of Christmas is about CHRIST.  Jesus is the “reason for the season”.  He is the focus. Without Him being the focus, the world is left with a materialistic and worldly focus.

Three suggestions I would like to submit to parents are:

    1. If you want to include the story of Santa Claus in the season, make sure that the true meaning of the celebration (Christ’s birth) has the priority emphasis.
    2. Let your child know that Santa Claus is a pretend, fun, and  imaginary story and game but Jesus is the true meaning.
    3. Tell your children the story of kind and generous Saint Nicolas who was a real man in history who loved Jesus.

I personally don’t believe we need to leave Santa completely out of Christmas celebration. Children can still play the "Santa game" even if they know it is make-believe. This will not rob them of their joy of the season, and it can give parents the opportunity to tell their children about the godly qualities of the real Saint Nicholas, who dedicated his life to serving others and becoming an example of Christ’s love and compassion.

In all things, Jesus is the reason for the season!