Who is Santa Claus?

            The first question to be answered is: ‘What is the relationship between Christmas and Santa Claus?’ The next would be ‘Are these two synonymous?’. The first question is a little difficult to answer but the second question is a big ‘No’. Santa Claus is very much related to Christmas, but the main focus of Christmas is JESUS CHRIST. The very word Christmas originates from the word Christ. There would have been no Christmas without Christ. But the sad situation today is that Santa Claus has or is slowly replacing Christ.

            If Christ is the main focus of Christmas, where did Santa Claus come from? The word Santa Claus came into existence from the word Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a Greek Bishop in the 4^th century. He was a holy man and went around helping the poor. He gave gifts to those who were good and honest. When we think of Santa Claus the image that flashes before us is a happy and cheerful white bearded man with a big belly, red clothes, a cap, big black boots and laughter that sounded Ho! Ho! Ho! This image with other finer details became popular because of the poem “A visit from St. Nicholas”. This image had become popular in the 19^th century and is still maintained. Posters, films and various other forms of media has strengthened this image.

            The common stories that are told about Santa Claus are that he makes lists of all the good children and give them gifts. It is believed that Santa goes around distributing gifts on 24^th late night and 25^th early in the morning. Other popular belief is that he goes on a sleigh which is pulled by the reindeers. It is also believed that they magically travel in the sky. And can be seen by good children at night. Yet another legend says that Santa comes down the chimney to give gifts. These various stories are become popular due to various carols (songs), write-ups, Christmas stories, TV and radio programmes etc.

            Now here is something many didn’t know. Did you hear of Santa sneaking in like a thief through the chimney of window to give gifts? What I am going to share here may not be connected but it may ring a bell for a few. Santa Claus or St. Nicholas is the patron saint of thieves, children, sailors, merchants etc…… Thieves who were in trouble and would be caught for their crime would pray to St. Nicholas and would promise to change their ways. It is also believed that St. Nicholas’ body was stolen by pirates to be venerate, this happened during a clash of empires. This shows that not only the children but also sinners loved him and promised to change their lives.

            The Santa Claus that we see in our today’s world is losing its authenticity. We have forgotten the original St. Nicholas and are adoring a big fat man in red with a long white beard. St. Nicholas would gather things and help the poor. The irony here is that now the Santa Claus is mostly seen singing and dancing around wealthy people and the poor wait in great expectation. Santa Claus especially during Christmas season is also used as advertisement. It looks like Santa is now a ‘Sales-man’.

            When we talk about ‘Microsoft’ we think of Bill Gates, when we pass-by ‘KFC’ though we may not know the name, the image of Colonel Sanders is seen on the all that the brand uses. Now coming to our own country, when we speak about ‘Jio’ we immediately relate it to Ambani. But when it comes to Christmas our story is like ‘Vodafone’; hardly anybody knows Ernest Harrison or Gerry Whent we just relate it to the pug we see in the advertisements. Thus, the pug is become more famous with Vodafone India than the founders. Let us make Christ known. We use Santa Clause, Snowman, bells, holly’s, and jolly sticks so much that we have forgotten the Christ in the Christmas.

            Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus himself was a follower of Christ and in his situation did what Christ would do- ‘serving the poor, sinners and those forgotten-the little ones’. Let us follow the example of Saint Nicholas, not him. We are followers of Christ let us do what is pleasing to him. A few days back I was wondering about what Saint Nicholas would be doing in heaven, and I strongly believe that Christmas would be the saddest time of the year for him. He would be weeping because people are using his name and image very commercially. He would be also annoyed that people are following and patronizing him rather than his Master. So let us take a resolution this Christmas that we would proclaim Christ and tell the true story of Saint Nicholas, so that we all may have a Merry Christmas.