Santa Claus, A Saint? (Post 5 Part 1)

I often hear "Oh, but we don't do Santa" or "We don't do the secular side of Christmas". Another reason to learn where these traditions come from! With Christmas, these are the customs that come with it, the tree, carols, feasting, and the gift giving. So where did the gift giving come from? And what about Santa, is he secular or religious? I'm sure you have heard the term "Jolly Old Saint Nick" right?!

So here is the deal, a Bishop named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey in 280AD provided for the poor and sick. After his death on Dec 6, 343AD the legend of his giving grew. Stories of his 'miracles' and work spread to other parts of the world. He was made a Saint, and was the most revered and powerful saint in Europe, after Mary and John the Baptist of course. Throughout the world many Catholic churches were named after him in the early church days. Even Christopher Columbus named a port near Cuba after him, (Mole-Saint-Nicolas).

However, St. Nicholas-related traditions were almost done a way with in the 16th century, when the Protestant Reformation took place, they did not accept honoring or praying to saints.
Although so many of the common people loved St. Nicholas, he survived on the European continent as people continued to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth.

The Dutch continued to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas, on Dec 6th. It was a common practice for children to put out their shoes the night before. In the morning, they would discover the gifts that St. Nicholas had left there for them. Thus maybe were the stocking tradition comes from.

Dutch immigrants brought St. Nicholas, known to them as Sint Nikolaas or by his nickname Sinterklaas, and his gift-giving ways to America in the 1700s. Other names for the figure include De Sint ("The Saint"), De Goede Sint ("The Good Saint"), and De Goedheiligman in Dutch means ("The Good Holy Man")

In America, St. Nicholas went through many transformations and eventually Sinterklaas became Santa Claus. Instead of giving gifts on December 6th, he became a part of the Christmas holiday (Holy day).

It's good to learn our history. Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th of December back around 336 AD. And many customs and traditions were added to this day, most taken from the feast of Saturnalia. The word it self 'Christmas' means the 'Mass of Christ' is a Catholic ritual .

And now we know where this gift giving custom comes from, a venerated Saint. Did you know that the Catholic and Orthodox churches still honor him today with a feast day on December 6th!

This will help you to understand why some Catholics and Christians still fight to keep Santa in their Christmas traditions. They claim that St. Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or Santa Claus, are good and godly. No!!!! This Santa Claus, who was a 'Saint' is a counterfeit for Jesus. It's a Spiritual Deception! Go and read Day 4 to see how sly satan is. It's the most important post on Santa aka satan.

I hope these are blessing you. Much love!