But he was called Nicholas. And he lived in Myra (now Demre in modern Turkey), not the North Pole. And he had no reindeer. But other than that, there are some significant similarities.
Church of St. Nicholas in Demre (Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Upsplash)
Misty History
Not much is known for sure about this man. It is believed he was born in the late 200s in Patara, in Asia Minor, possibly to an Armenian mother (according to the Armenians!) and a Greek father. When his parents died in an epidemic, young Nicholas went to live with an uncle who was a priest in Myra. He came into a large inheritance. And he later became a bishop.
How Traditions Grew
As bishop, Nicholas gained a reputation for generosity and care of the poor. One story says that he heard of a family whose three daughters were about to be sold because they could not afford dowries. He took three bags of gold and threw them through the family’s window during the night. The bags landed on shoes sitting on the hearth. I guess we can all see where the idea of Santa’s bringing presents down the chimney and filling stockings may have begun.
Nicholas didn’t want his generous deeds to be known, perhaps partly because in the third century Romans (and others in general) believed in taking care of themselves. Altruism was considered a weakness. But people knew he did kind, selfless things and hoped he might bestow some riches them. Does that have a familiar feel to it?
Nicholas was named a Saint when several miraculous events were attributed to him. Like how he was able to get a paper from Constantinople (modern Istanbul) to Myra–a distance of over two hundred miles–overnight. Mysterious, quick night travel, anyone?
St. Nicholas of Myra died on December 6 and over the years, celebrations in his honor on that date kept the stories about him circulating. He goes by many names now: Père Noël, Babbo Natale, Father Christmas, Kriss Kringle, and Sinter Klaas, for examples.
There’s Fact and Then There’s Truth
So, like I said, not much can be documented for sure about St. Nicholas. He was by all verifiable accounts generous. And kind to children and the poor. He assuredly is the origin of the more modern Santa Claus traditions. Those are some of the facts as we can know them. https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus
But the truth under the narratives and traditions is this: Nicholas was one man trying to make a difference in a desperately needy world. This is why we remember him even still in all his names around the world. And why I find much joy in making my Old World St. Nicks.
