John Sheda

A week ago or so, my 15-year-old Grand-daughter asked me about the origin of Santa Claus. Well, not sure if she knew anything or not, I quickly explained that he is a nice old man with a long white beard that lives in some undisclosed location at the North Pole. After rolling her eyes, she said she wanted to know the real story. At this moment, I realized she actually did not believe that Santa Claus was real. I decided to take a chance and share what I knew. So as Paul Harvey used to say, “now for the rest of the story…”

The actual history of Santa Claus is real. In the 4th century, there was a Catholic Monk by the name of Saint Nicholas who was orphaned as a teenager, lived in an orphanage, but inherited much money from his parents, who died in an accident. As he grew older, he had many memories of growing up in that orphanage and lacking any material goods the kids had there. He decided to use his fortune to help disadvantaged kids and families the best he could. And he did this magnanimous gesture secretly. He became a Bishop and wore the traditional red robes that Bishops generally wore at the time. Are you getting the picture? Besides just going around giving presents, he would remind the children when he saw them say their prayers and practice good behavior (which is perhaps where the naughty/nice list idea might come from).

The story continues that Saint Nick heard of an elderly man with three daughters, who was so very poor, that he couldn’t properly provide a dowry to give the bridegroom in order for his daughters to get married. If they did not marry, they could possibly end up as old spinsters with no help from anyone. The man was too proud to accept help, so Sanit Nick devised a way to help out in a clandestine fashion. He climbed on top of the man’s roof and dropped three sacks of gold down the poor man’s chimney, and surprisingly the sacks of gold “accidentally” fell into a sock or stocking that hung over the fire to dry. True or not! You decide.

So although the image of this kind-hearted man has changed quite a bit over time from the young bishop in red robes to a fat, jolly man with a beard and 8 reindeer, it does come from a very true place in history. So the old adage about not believing in Santa Claus could be all wrong, at least the original aspects of it. You see, we’re never too old to believe in Santa Claus. He was real, his traditions are real, and how he lived his life is certainly something we should remember and remind ourselves of every year.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and may Santa Claus bring you all some wonderful presents (maybe even gold nuggets) instead of coal. There’s more to the story, but this at least scratches the surface. Let me know what you think at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640.