St. Nicholas, the real Santa Claus
The origin of the Santa Claus legend can be traced back several centuries to a monk known as St. Nicholas. Born around A.D. 280 in Patara, near present-day Turkey, St. Nicholas was highly revered for his piety and benevolence. He became the central figure in numerous tales. According to legend, he selflessly relinquished his inherited wealth and embarked on a mission to aid the underprivileged and ailing in the countryside. One particularly well-known story recounts how St. Nicholas rescued three destitute sisters from the prospect of being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father. He intervened by supplying them with a dowry, enabling their marriages to take place.
Throughout the years, Nicholas’ fame grew, earning him the title of the guardian of children and sailors. Celebrated on December 6, the anniversary of his death, his feast day was traditionally seen as an auspicious time for significant purchases or marriages. During the Renaissance, St. Nicholas rose to become the most widely esteemed saint in Europe. Despite the decline in saintly veneration during the Protestant Reformation, St. Nicholas continued to enjoy a positive reputation, particularly in Holland.
The Arrival of Sinter Klaas in New York: A St. Nicholas Tale in American Culture
St. Nicholas made his initial impact on American popular culture in the late 18th century. In December 1773 and 1774, New York newspapers documented Dutch families gathering to commemorate the anniversary of his death.
The moniker Santa Claus originated from Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas. It is a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). In 1804, John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts of St. Nicholas during the society’s annual meeting. The engraving’s background featured familiar Santa images, such as stockings filled with toys and fruit hung over a fireplace.
Washington Irving played a role in popularizing the Sinter Klaas stories in 1809 when he referred to St. Nicholas as the patron saint of New York in his book, The History of New York. As Sinter Klaas’s prominence increased, descriptions ranged from a “rascal” donning a blue three-cornered hat, red waistcoat, and yellow stockings to a man sporting a broad-brimmed hat and a “huge pair of Flemish trunk hose.”
A Global Celebration of Santa Claus
In the 18th century, Santa Claus in America wasn’t the sole St. Nicholas-inspired gift-bringer during the Christmas season. Similar figures and festive traditions abound across the globe. Christkind or Kris Kringle, believed to bring presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children, is a term meaning “Christ child.” This angelic figure often partners with St. Nicholas on holiday missions. In Scandinavia, the cheerful elf Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh pulled by goats. According to English legend, Father Christmas visits every home on Christmas Eve, filling children’s stockings with holiday delights. Père Noël takes on the responsibility of filling the shoes of French children. Meanwhile, in Italy, the tale revolves around La Befana. She is a benevolent witch who rides a broomstick down Italian chimneys, delivering toys into the stockings of fortunate children.
