This Day

I recently came across Santa. Yes, same one with his iconic sack of goodies over his shoulder. In actuality he was cut out of plywood and painted by hand, one of those Santas’s that have survived many winters standing on front lawns and in front of farm houses along highways at this time of year.

This one was in a local shop of vintage stuff and while I have not had the urge lately to have a Santa image greeting passersby from my front porch, there was something about the simplicity of the thing that appealed to me. He had already lasted at least three or four decades. There was little deterioration of his painted image. He very well may have been made from a pattern published in Popular Mechanics or the like of his era and lovingly finished in someone’s workshop in time for this particular season. This piece, in all its plainness came with a non- commercial, human touch. It also came home with me after prompting a curiosity into how this mythological figure came to symbolize what it does today.

Historically the origins of the myth of Santa began with a monk named Nicholas who was born around A.D. 280 in what is modern-day Turkey. His feast day was recently celebrated on December 6, the anniversary of his death where gift giving traditions remain in certain parts of the world.

The story line as I understand it, is that Nicholas was decreed a saint based on him giving away all of his inherited wealth so that he could help others. He empowered himself in that way in order to fulfill what he felt to be a higher purpose in life.

His legend spread throughout Europe and became adopted by many as a symbol of giving to those in need. He became the patron saint of children. In Netherlands, Belgium, and Holland he was known as either De Sint (The Saint) or De Goedheiligman (The Good Holy Man) Sint-Nicolaas or Sinterklaas. In Dutch, de Kerstman (the Christmas Man) is often preferred. In my childhood we knew him by the French name that has lasted since that earlier time—Father Christmas—Père Noël.

Like the wind, the migration of all ideas and mythologies travel with the resettlement of people and the transplanting of cultural ideals. With the development of the British and the first Dutch colonies in North America the version of the gift-giver merged further.

In 1809 the author Washington Irving wrote History of New York, a story about a place previously known as New Amsterdam prior to British takeover. Saint Nicholas had been adopted as the Patron Saint of New York City, the book announced. The origin story was appropriated and the name of Sinterklass was done away with. In its place came the Anglicized ‘Santa Claus’. Also replaced in the imagery was the up-tothen, bishop’s apparel. The new garb was illustrated as a hefty Dutch sailor with a pipe and wearing a green winter coat. The book was more or less a parody of the times supported by upper-class merchants and Christian purists and was a hopeful start to taming a growing trend toward less than moderate celebrations at that time of year.

Seems like the newly landed mix of cultures in North America had at the time of Irving’s musings, turned seasonal celebrations into a non-stop party. There were aggressive home invasions under the guise of wassailing; premarital sex leading to shotgun wedding in areas where the Puritans prevailed and other unruliness not often written about in history sagas.

As time evolved, Santa further transformed into a symbol of gift-buying. It was a copywriter working for a large department store in the city who saw the opportunity to engage the city’s patron saint as a greeting image to increase sales. Santa’s makeover of a red and white outfit and rosy cheeks was launched.

Not long after, in 1822, Clement Clarke Moore, a biblical scholar and professor wrote a simple poem for his children, The Night before Christmas. He had no intention of publishing it but pressure to do so from close family members made it the legend of what it is to this day.

Soon a Norse Pagan legend of flying reindeer came to be attached to a sleigh which would become Santa’s mode of transport. The medieval Saint Nicholas had morphed into a flying, reindeer–driving spirit of the Northern midwinter.

Today, Wednesday December 21st marks Winter Solstice in the cycle of the turning of the earth. It’s also a time when celebrations of rebirth, of caring, of higher spiritual realms are honoured in belief practices that span the globe.

While the season heightens the message of goodwill, we search throughout the year to find genuine opportunities to perpetuate the message toward other beings.

I’m thinking it is the lesson of generosity of Saint Nicholas to others that is tucked under the veneer of my now keepsake plywood Santa. I’m sure that is the hidden reminder that prompted me to bring it home and I’m glad I did. Be well to all.

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