Antonio FatenSanta Claus. We all know him, we all love him, the jolly red guy who brings gifts to children (and adults) once a year. But, how well do we truly know this man of myth? We’ll be taking a look back toward the 4th Century CE, at the time of St. Nicholas to uncover the roots of the man we welcome down our chimney each year.
The Bishop of Myra
Full disclosure: because of the lack of historical accounts, the legends and traditions of his exploits are left up to interpretation, so take everything mentioned here with a grain of snow. St Nicholas was a bishop of Myra in contemporary Turkey. He was one of the minor saints who were commemorated in both the Eastern and Western churches in the Lycuan seaport of Patara. In his youth, he traveled to Palestine and Egypt before returning home and became a bishop. But things took a turn when he was imprisoned and tortured by the Romans under the rule of Diocletian, who ordered the persecution of Christians.
He would soon be released when Constantine the Great ascended the hierarchy. He may have attended the first Council of Nicaea, but we’re unsure due to a lack of historical evidence. His kindness and generosity would soon garner his reputation, giving rise to legends and miracles he contributed to the lower-class citizens. His supposed actions would be the highlight and inspiration for the myth of Santa Claus, who journeys all across the world to grant gifts to all the good people of the world (and coal for the unsavory bunch). So, now you know the man behind the myth, there’s no way that this big, red giant has any more origin stories, right?
Origins Branch Out
…Right? However, like many oral traditions, the story was passed down and convoluted that there are numerous interpretations of this jolly man’s origins. One such example comes from the stop-motion Rankin/Bass film Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The film tells the story of Kris Kringle, an orphan of unknown origins raised by a family of small toymakers (who would later be Santa’s Elves). His good nature would lead him to Sombertown to spread joy to the children under the rule of the tyrant Burgermeister Meisterburger (anyone else craving a burger).
The film became iconic since its release, audiences took it as the definitive origin of Santa Claus. But decades later, a new origin for Santa would come out in 2019 in the 2D animated Netflix original film Klaus. This iteration tells the story of a spoiled son of a business tycoon sent to the island of Smeerensburg to deliver over a thousand mail to the inhabitants there. Little does he know that his endeavors will lead to an unexpected encounter with a bearded toymaker, who spreads joy to the children through the act of giving. Together, they make an unlikely duo as they learn the meaning of giving.
Give A Little
Regardless of which of the origins you would prefer, the fact remains that the act of giving can go a long way and will likely inspire others to follow in your wake. And even though the origins of this jolly fellow are obscure at best, his story is inspiring as it brings hope and joy to the world, which we desperately need.
Read More From The Able Show Contributors.
https://theableshow.com/the-legend-of-old-saint-nic/
Works Cited
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066327
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Nicholas