St. Nick Lived Through an Epidemic
By Tom Cooper
The person we refer to as Santa Claus is an artist’s depiction of St. Nick, the “fat jolly old elf” from Clement Moore’s 1823 poem “The Night before Christmas.” This Santa became the central figure in Coca-Cola advertising, and a world-wide icon of commercialism.
The real St. Nick was a 4th century Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey. He inherited great wealth when his parents died in an epidemic while he was young (an epidemic being regional, while a pandemic is more global). This experience could have embittered him, or made him turn inward. Instead, Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.*
Stories of his compassion are legendary. One involved a neighbour who lived in his same town. A father who had lost all his money could not afford dowries for his three daughters. In desperation, he considered selling his daughters into slavery or prostitution. Nicholas anonymously threw a bag containing enough gold for the dowry of one daughter through the family’s open window.Then he did it again, and yet again. His generous act saved all from disgrace.
Santa Claus belongs to childhood; St. Nicholas models all stages of life.
Santa Claus encourages consumption; St. Nicholas encourages compassion.
Santa Claus flies through the air—from the North Pole; St. Nicholas walked the earth—caring for those in need.
Santa Claus, for some, replaces the Babe of Bethlehem; St. Nicholas, for all, points to the Babe of Bethlehem.*
What a profound shift away from the essence of St. Nicholas of ancient Myra. St. Nicholas saw his resources as a gift from God to be shared with the poor and marginalized; Santa Claus encourages us to focus on gifting primarily to our loved ones and friends. As the Apostle Paul says, “No one should seek only their own good, but the good of others.” (I Cor. 10:24)
Like Nicholas of Myra, let us look beyond ourselves and our loved ones and towards those in need, and toss some bags of gold through the open windows of our needy neighbours.
Merry Christmas,
Tom
*J. Rosenthal & C. Myers “Santa Claus and St. Nicholas”