Over thousands of years, the idea of Santa Claus has stayed prevalent throughout family homes, however Santa’s true message and focus has shifted over time.
What do people think about Santa Claus now?
Many people grow up believing that Santa Claus is real. They’re told that on the night of Christmas Eve, Santa enters their houses and brings them presents if they are on the nice list. Others believe that Santa isn’t real, and that their family are the ones buying the presents for them, and they’re also the ones eating the snacks that are left out for Santa, for example milk and mince pies. The most common belief now is that Santa isn’t real, and was a lie invented by their parents.
Where did Santa Claus originate?
Santa Claus originated from the 4th-century Christian bishop St. Nicholas, who was known for his kindness and generosity. He was a Greek bishop from the city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey), who was famous for secretly giving gifts to the poor. One story tells of him anonymously providing a dowry for three daughters by tossing bags of gold down the chimney, which landed in their stockings. The legend was later combined with figures like the Dutch “Sinterklaas” and the English Father Christmas. Later, it was heavily influenced by the 1822 poem “A Visit from St Nicholas.”
So, is Santa Claus real or not?
The modern-day, legendary figure of Santa Claus is a fictional character, created for children, but he is heavily based on a real historical person Saint Nicholas. But sadly, the real Saint Nicholas died on December 6th, 343 AD, and his feast day is celebrated annually on that date with gift giving in many European countries. So, while the magical figure with a flying reindeer is fictional, the spirit of Santa is still based on the very real qualities of generosity and kindness exemplified by Saint Nicholas.
Should parents tell their children about Santa?
The true dilemma lies with parents, do they choose to keep the Christmas spirit alive with the modern-day idea of Santa, or do they tell them the true story of Saint Nicholas? In some cases, telling children about the true Santa could change their ideas of Christmas. But, in most cases learning the true generosity and goodwill that Saint Nicholas showed could allow them to focus on keeping the Christmas spirit in selflessness, rather than anticipating gifts from Santa.
By Bindi Naran & Amaanah Iqbal