Santa Claus; Father Christmas; Saint Nicholas; Sinter Klass

Meaning of Christmas ~ Part Three (final)

No matter what name you use, children all over the world, especially in North America seem to associate him with Christmas, often confusing him for the reason of celebrating Christmas. I have been wondering if it is mainly in North America that commercialization has somehow morphed Santa and Christmas together, or if it’s a worldwide epidemic? Would love to hear from readers outside of NA about how they celebrate the gift giving that occurs at the same time as the celebration of Christmas.

History tells us that St. Nicholas was born in 280 AD ~ a wealthy man who travelled the world helping those less fortunate. A Christian priest, who later became a bishop, eventually he would be named the patron saint of children, sailors, Russia and Greece. Being a humble man he would do his good deeds cloaked in the darkness of the night, so recipients would not learn his identity. By end of the 1400s, St Nicholas was the third most beloved religious figure, after Jesus and Mary.

In the 1500s people in England stopped worshipping St Nicholas and favored more another gift giving figure Father Christmas. Over the centuries, St. Nicholas' popularity grew, and people being people repeated stories about this great man and eventually the stories evolved to the modern day association with children. The name Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch Sinter Klass pronunciation of St. Nicholas. Early Dutch settlers in New York (once called New Amsterdam) brought their traditions of St. Nicholas. As children from other countries tried to pronounce Sinter Klass, this soon became Santa Klass, which finally evolved to what we call today, Santa Claus. The old bishop's cloak with miter, jeweled gloves and cozier were soon replaced with his red suit and clothing seen in other modern images.

Christmas is the celebration of God’s (as we call him in my part of the world) precious gift to us. Santa Claus or Father Christmas, as the name I first came to know him by ~actually is symbolic of ancient and modern day giving to others in “need”. So, I’ll leave you with this when did a DS; IPod; designer hand bag /shoes (ok I know ~ I’m not going to cast stones into my own glass house here..lol) or the latest “It” item go from a want to a need?
                   

How have we as educated, hard working individuals go from celebrating all that we have, to celebrating WANTING needing more? And somehow justifying the accumulation of disposable things instead of helping and giving to others in the true meaning of giving the basic needs ~ food, shelter, clothing, love and care and the small token gift?

For those who have followed all three parts of the Meaning of Christmas, thank you and thank you for your wonderful comments, I was starting to wonder if it was my ABI that was making me question things. I’m happy to read that many of you out there feel the same; there is a place for both Santa Claus and the celebration of Christmas, so let’s celebrate both in the true spirit of their respective origin .

So, make your lists for Santa Claus (I know I will) .. just remember the difference between WANT and NEED. To give in the TRUE MEANING of the season ~ give to those less fortunate. And certanily to celebrate the gift God gave us, all his Children ~ to learn to be good to each other, have faith and believe!!

You can read Part One here and Part Two here.