Standing Strong

Isaiah 11:6

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Saint Nicolas and Santa Claus have very little in common.  The people of Saint Nicolas time would not recognize the young generous bishop in the current portrayal of Santa Claus and it is a shame that so much has been lost.

 

Nicolas was born into a wealthy family in Asia minor at approximately 280 CE.  He was taught the

scriptures early in his childhood by his mother.  Both of his parents died during an epidemic and left

all their wealth to the young boy.  He dedicated his life to God and moved to the chief city of Myra

where members of the council were balloting for a new bishop  after the death of their beloved leader.

Unable to reach a decision and prompted in a dream the oldest official stood by the cathedral door

and pledged to name the next person who named Nicolas who came through the door would be the

new bishop.  (Before you think this is leaving too much to chance, remember the disciples picked

Judas’ successor by drawing lots.) When the young boy went through the door for his morning

prayers, he was asked his name and despite his protestation that he was too young for the office

Nicolas was overruled and consecrated to the high office.

 

During the reign of Diocletian, when many Christians were persecuted for their faith, Nicolas at

age 23 was imprisoned until the decree of Constantine proclaimed an imperial toleration of all

religions.  There is legend that he restored to life by prayer the life of a sailor who fell from a

high mast. This was seen as a miracle in response to the prayer of the righteous young man.

 

There are other miracles attributed to the Lord through Nicolas during his life.  During a famine Nicolas persuaded captains of grain ships to let him have part of their cargo for his province. Finally in answer to his prayer they relented and to their shock when the reached their port of delivery the amount of grain in their holds had returned to the original amount when they started the voyage.

In 325 the sons of a rich Asiatic was murdered and robbed by a wicked innkeeper. This man hid the boys’ dismembered bodies in casks of brine. On his way to Nicea to attend the famous council Nicolas had the crime revealed to him in a dream and prayed while making the sign of the cross over the casks. The casks split open and the boys were restored to life.

This series of incredible deeds and his well known generosity led to a large following of the good bishop.  The most well know act concerns three daughters of a nobleman who had lost his fortune during business ventures resulting in his three daughters having no dowry for their respective weddings. Nicolas, at night threw a bog of gold through the window and the oldest girl married well. The same happened for the second.  When the third had grown the nobleman watched during the night and caught Nicolas in the act and Nicolas’ secret giving for the dowriless women was spread far and wide by the nobleman much to the bishop’s dismay.  One telling of this story has it that the bag of gold thrown into the home fell into the girl’s stocking which was drying by the hearth and that his is where the custom of hanging stockings by the fireplace originates.

 

The young bishop died in 341. In Myra St. Nicolas day is celebrated on May 9, the day he arrived in the town to serve the people there.  In Germany and England St. Nicolas day was celebrated on Dec 6, the day of his death.

 

In his pictures and statues Nicolas is frequently seen carrying three bags of Gold, reminiscent of his gift for the three young women. To show their respect for him, bankers of Lombardy in northern Italy took him as their patron Saint and placed three balls, representing the bags of gold, over their places of business. Since they lent money to clients, this sign became common among pawn brokers.

When the Dutch settled in New Amsterdam (now called New York) in the 1630s they brought their traditions of St. Nicolas with them and named their first church after him a figurehead of the saint donning the bow of their ship Goede Vrouw.  The image wore a broad brimmed hat, had a Dutch pipe, and was a tubby character with short britches.  So much for the pale ascetic young Bishop of Asia Minor.

 

By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Dutch in New York had combined the feast of St

Nicolas with that of Christmas. Both were celebrated on December 6. In New York  on

February 22 1835 a society was organized to honor the departed Bishop, Saint Nicolas and the

poem a visit from Saint Nicolas was written by Dr. Clement C Moore who taught at a theological

seminary. Thus we had the transformation well on the way to one of a generous bishop helping

the poor of his province, especially those of marriageable age in need to one of giving gifts to

children in reward for good behavior.  The whole purpose of the giving went from acts of

generosity from a godly man to rewards for behavior from a fictional elf.  In 1863 Thomas

Nast pictured him in Harper’s Illustrated Weekly in a red fur-trimmed suit   And finally we

have the Coca Cola Santa so familiar to most of us today..

Rather than rebel against the current tradition of Santa Claus, I recommend that one take the opportunity to tell the story of the boy bishop who was listened to in prayer with miracles following his devoted requests to the Lord and the generosity shown to those in need done purely as an act of love and designed to be done in secret such that the Lord God would get the credit for the good done.

 

Messianic Rabbi Richard Bristol PhD