History of Santa Claus
When you picture jolly ole Saint Nick what comes to mind? A bishop from Turkey? Probably not, right? The image you conjure up is more than likely the Americanized version of Santa Claus - that of the roundish old man with profuse white facial hair, bright red suit, and big black belt strapping down a protruding belly said to shake like a “bowl full of jelly”. But the original inspiration for this happy caricature is thought to have been a real person; a bishop who lived in Myra (known today as the country of Turkey).
Saint Nicholas, born during the third century, was a devout Christian known for his generosity. As Bishop of Myra, he had a reputation for helping those in need. There are many legends and stories that tell of the good deeds Saint Nicholas performed throughout his lifetime. One such legend not only sheds light on the gift giving roots of Santa Claus, but also on the tradition of placing stockings or shoes by the fireplace in the hopes they will be filled with goodies.
The story tells of a poor man with three daughters, each of which who wanted to marry. In order to wed, the father of the bride was expected to present a dowry. Since the man was poor, he had no dowry to offer for any of the girls. If the girls could not wed they would likely be sold in to slavery. Saint Nicholas was said to have secretly delivered bags of gold to the girls’ house to help their situation out. The legend tells how the bags, delivered on three separate occasions, were tossed in through an open window overnight, landing in stockings or shoes left by the fire to dry. The gold provided the needed dowry for each girl and saved them from slavery. Some versions of the story say the gold was in the form of balls instead of in bags and is the reason why one symbol of Saint Nicholas (seen in imagery of the icon) is three gold balls grouped together.
There are many stories of St. Nicholas’ kindness and generosity, but the legend of how he assisted with the dowries of the poor sisters is perhaps the most famous and most relevant to the Christmas holiday traditions of today. Some of those additional tales tell of his close associate with the sea and describe how he aided sailors in need, while others describe his acts as a protector of children. Such stories help explain why St. Nicholas is considered the patron saint of children and sailors.
