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HELEN SANDERS
12-4-2021
WHAT ABOUT SANTA CLAUS?
I am sure there will be those that disagree with my perspective, yet let’s talk about Santa Claus. I was in a store today looking for a nativity scene. You know, the one with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the animals, and the manger. There was nothing in this large retail center that vaguely represented the real meaning of Christ’s birth.
Now, it is apparent that Jesus was not born in December because everything he did correlated with the Jewish feasts and there is no feast in December. There is Hanukkah but that is not a Jewish feast. Jesus was probably born in the fall because that is when the shepherds were able to be outside with their flocks. (Luke 2:8.) They could not have done that in winter. Regardless, we know that he was born.
Over the years there have been many traditions added to the birth of Christ, including the wise men showing up at the birth, which scripturally is not true. They came to a house according to Matthew 2:11 and presented gifts. There was a stir in Jerusalem when they showed up so there had to be more than just three kings from the east. They were laded with many gifts for a king, that’s why they went to Herod in the first place. Jesus was two or less when they came because Herod killed all the children two years old and under. He determined when Jesus was born according to what these wise men told him in Matthew 2:16.
There was no drummer boy, and there were no bells that rang. It was very quiet the night Jesus was born.
Then we come to Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, or Father Christmas. These are traditions also. Apparently at one time a man gave gifts and it caught on. Remember from history that the Catholic church made Christmas a holy day to appease those that were in pagan worship. They combined the winter solstice and the birth of Jesus to “make it fit” for everyone. Well, they also taught about three wise men instead of a caravan of wise men.
Then there is Santa Claus. As a child I received gifts from “Santa Claus” and on Christmas Eve excitedly watched out my bedroom window for a sleigh bringing gifts to my house. It was a delusion that I passed on to my children until I realized that this tradition would lead them to wonder if Jesus was real when they found out that Santa Claus wasn’t real.
We need to be honest with children from birth to the grave. They need to learn the truth about Santa, Jesus, the Bible, heaven, and hell. If one is a myth, they likely believe all of them are myths. The sad part is the world has gotten caught up in Santa Claus and have forgotten whose supposed birthday it is. It has become just like the world, all about money and not about truth.
I had a yard sale recently and sold a bunch of Santa Claus stuff that had been in the home we bought. She said that she knew that it couldn’t belong to me because a real Christian would never have Santa in their home. I perceived this to be a very legalist viewpoint. I do not think that it is wrong to talk about St. Nicholas and who he really was. He was a real person, but he did not fly in a sleigh, wear a red suit, or go down a chimney. He gave gifts secretly to people. That is the true meaning of Christmas my friends, gifts. And, I might add the gift of our Savior is the most important gift ever given.
Talk to your children and grandchildren and explain to them about giving, and not just receiving. Teach them about the spirit that St. Nicholas had in giving gifts secretly without expecting anything in return. This is exactly what Jesus did. He was born to be the gift to the world that is received by faith. He is the real gift. Teach this to your children. Help them to become givers and not just receivers. This is the true meaning of Christmas whether you celebrate it in December or not.
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