CULTURE
Santa Claus: The Iconic Figure Who Merges Pagan and Christian Traditions
The Symbol of Giving and Joyfulness
“The belief in Santa Claus is like virginity — there’s no getting it back. Sure, you can still have some amazing, magical experiences once it’s gone, but you are fundamentally changed on the other side of that rite of passage. You are more grown up.” — Jenn-Anne
The idea of Santa Claus is a fascinating one. Who is this jolly older man who brings presents to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve? And where does he come from?
There are many different theories out there about the origins of Santa Claus.
Some say he is based on a real person, while others believe he is a mythical figure. But one thing is for sure — the story of Santa Claus is a fascinating example of how myth and legend merge.
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century bishop from what is now Turkey.
He was known for his kindness and generosity, especially towards children. As the story goes, young Nicholas would leave gifts in bags outside people’s houses in secret to brighten their day.
Over time, the legend of Santa Claus evolved as it spread throughout Europe. By the Middle Ages, stories of Saint Nicholas had blended with local customs and traditions such as Yule logs, caroling, and gift-giving into what we now recognize as Christmas celebrations.
Tales of “Father Christmas” — an old man figure who brought gifts on Christmas Eve — were also becoming popularized through literature and art.
One story tells how St Nicholas saved three young women from a life of poverty by leaving them dowries so that they could be married. This act of kindness and generosity formed the basis for our modern-day image of Santa Claus — a figure who gives generous gifts at Christmas time in the spirit of love and joy.
Dutch settlers brought their traditions to America when they arrived, introducing stories of a kindly old man called “Sinterklaas,” whose job was to deliver presents on December 6th. Over time Sinterklaas became merged with the story of Saint Nicholas. Eventually, they changed into the familiar form we know today as Santa Claus.
December 6th
Every Christian Saint has a feast day; in Saint Nicholas’ case, it is December 6th, which has become an important date in Christmas celebrations.
Children often receive presents, representing Saint Nicholas-style gift-giving on this day. Some cultures celebrate Santa Claus Day on December 6th, when people honor the spirit of giving and celebrating with family and friends.
In many countries, this celebration takes place before and after Christmas — although it gets much more attention during the festive season!
It was the Christianisation of pagan Europe and the merging of religious cultures that gave rise to our modern-day image of Santa Claus.
Through the years, this jolly older man has become intertwined with Christmas. He is now a beloved figure worldwide — bringing joy and gifts to children everywhere on Christmas Eve!
Santa is highly regarded across many cultures, with countries such as Japan, Mexico, and Italy having their versions of him.
He is often depicted in festive decorations or in illustrations wearing his familiar red suit trimmed with white fur, carrying a sack full of presents over his shoulder.
Despite different interpretations of Santa’s appearance, one thing remains constant — he is always seen as a figure associated with giving and joyfulness.
“Here’s what we know about Santa. He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. I think he’s with the NSA.” — David Letterman
A Pagan Festival
In germanic paganism, there was a midwinter festival called Yuletide, which was celebrated around the Winter Solstice.
It is believed that the Scandinavian tradition of Jultomten (Father Christmas) emerged from this festival and eventually gave rise to our modern-day interpretation of Santa Claus.
The most famous story behind Santa’s origins is Clement C. Moore’s poem A Visit From St Nicholas or ’Twas The Night Before Christmas as it is more commonly known.
Written in 1823, this poem paints a vivid picture of Saint Nick — an older man with a big white beard, rosy cheeks, and a sack full of gifts for children who have been good throughout the year.
Yuletide was also associated with the wild hunt of Odin, a mythical god of Norse mythology.
In this tradition, Odin would ride through the sky on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir and reward good children with candy or small gifts. This story may have influenced the modern version of Santa Claus as we know him today — an older man who travels worldwide on Christmas Eve delivering presents.
Another pagan figure who influenced Santa Claus was Krampus — an anti-Christmas figure from Germanic folklore.
He was believed to be a companion of Saint Nicholas, and his job was to punish naughty children by either giving them coal or taking them away in his sack.
This tradition is still seen today, with many cultures giving out small pieces of coal to children who have not been good.
The Change of December 6th to December 25th.
In the 1500s, Martin Luther moved celebrations of Saint Nicholas’ day to December 25th, a more important date in the Christian calendar. This change meant that now Christmas and Saint Nicholas Day were celebrated together — further merging these two ideas and leading to the creation of our modern image of Santa Claus.
Luther disapproved of the catholic veneration of saints and thought Christ’s birth more appropriate to celebrate than Saint’s day. This is how Santa Claus, as we know him today, was born out of a combination of pagan and Christian traditions!
Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, popularized the figure of Santa Claus, further cementing him into our modern-day holiday celebrations.
In this story, a Christmas ghost visits Scrooge and reminds him of the importance of giving and joy during the holidays. This is often seen as the definitive version of Santa Claus — a generous older man with a white beard who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve.
This merging of cultures and beliefs has created an iconic figure who brings joy to people worldwide on Christmas Eve.
It’s no wonder that Santa Claus Day has become such an essential date in Christmas celebrations — it truly is a day for giving and celebrating with family and friends!
So whether you are naughty or nice this festive season, remember that Santa will always be there, bringing smiles and presents to everyone!
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I published this article first in my Substack´s Newsletter, “Beyond Two Cents.”
© Alejandro Betancourt, 2022. All Rights Reserved.
