Christmas Day is fast approaching and most of you I know are quite excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Knowingly Christ is the center of the December 25th celebration, however for kids and young-at-heart, they are so overwhelmed with the gifts that they have might get from someone with the traditional model of Santa Claus.
Back when I was a kid I remember a time my grandmother told me, that if we were naughty on the eve of December 25, Santa will not bring us any gifts. I know most of you have the same experience. But who really is Santa Claus?
Legendary says that Santa Claus, our beloved Christmas Icon was originated as a bishop of Myra (in gift day Turkey) in Anatolia within the 300s.
Legends said that Bishop was born in Patara to the wealthy Christian parents. As a kid, Bishop received multiple miracles. The people of Myra made bishop as their Saint.
Historians say they hold little evidence regarding the particular lifetime of this well-known saint. Nonetheless, several legends have developed and evolved over the centuries. Despite the historicity of bishop, his story has been supported behind a number of those legends.
Legend says that Bishop gave cash to the poor and later the church declared December 6 to be “Saint Day” , within the early 1800s. Bishop- currently called Saint Nick from the Dutch “Sinter Klaas” and later evolved to Santa Claus and became the standard up to this date.
Why Bishop named Sinter Klaas or Santa Claus?
Saint Nicholas also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker, is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, repentant thieves, archers, merchants, brewers, unmarried people, students, and pawnbrokers in various cities and countries around Europe.
Because of many miracles attributed to his intercession, his reputation evolved among the pious. And he was known with his legendary habit of secret gift-giving.
Santa Claus evolved from Dutch traditions regarding Saint Nicholas. As the Dutch established the colony of New Amsterdam, they brought the legend and traditions of Saint Nicholas with them.
The idea of the modern Santa Claus has speculatively a merged of the German God Wodan (Huge white beard, rode across the midwinter sky) and the English (Dutch) Father (Fat man wearing a red or green fur-lined robe, spirit of good cheer at Christmas)- to become the jolly character for Christmas. In America, this tradition has evolved into putting stockings out for Santa Claus.
Jolly old Saint Nicholas, Santa, is a traditional icon who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved children on the night of Christmas hours of Christmas Day ( December 25).
Originally, gift-giving at Christmas served as a way to commemorate the gifts of the Magi (wise men/kings) to young Jesus Christ. A gift freely given brings blessings to the giver as well as to the recipient. It engenders feelings of having service, being useful, and accomplished good.
Enjoy your Holiday folks!
Jerren Quidato 