2007-12-02 08:27:04 · 9 answers · asked by M Malcolm 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th century Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity.
2007-12-02 11:30:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
First there was St Nicholas--a real Saint who was wealthy and gave a lot of it away, but his feast day was December 6th (when it is still celebrated in some European countries--not at Christmas). Wow. (What an idea, let's exchange presents on St. Nicholas day, then December 25 can be free from commercialism. The shopping season can start earlier. We can have Black Friday the day after Halloween!) For many involved reasons, he was suppressed and finally abolished by the Protestant Reformation. However, he was not to be so easily done away with. His festival was assimilated with Christmas, because often custom and amusement prevail even in the face of disapproving religion. The Dutch brought him to the New World, and the English colonists borrowed him. In some parts of Germany, St.Nicholas was deposed of power and disappeared. Still, the custom remained and gifts appeared, but they were attributed to the Christ Child, or in popular German, Kriss Kringle. Hmm.
In parts of southern Germany, he is called "Santiklos". The Dutch form is San Nicolaas. Then along came Clement Moore, and that famous poem, which gave us our popular American form of St Nicholas. The author of "Twas the Night before Christmas" was a distinguished Biblical scholar and professor in the General Theological Seminary in New York. He created a fairy tale, borrowing from the Russian St Nicholas: the reindeer (there are none in America but lots of them in Lapland, close to Russia), and the furs--(but no red suit--that was the vision of the artist who illustrated the verse), made him an "elf" and incorporated the idea of Santa Claus of his time. The poem was such a success that it spread all over the country, giving America its own version of Santa Claus, which, ironically, spread back across the Atlantic to Europe. This is the version we have in the US, the jolly fat guy in the red suit.
2007-12-02 09:10:24 · answer #2 · answered by Isadora 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There might have been characters who were wealthy and gave off a "Santa" persona. Those individuals decided to take it upon themselves to do "good deeds" and alleviated folks' needs for "gifts." Some of the gifts were "food" which were necessities as opposed to "luxuries." Other things that were given, were clothing and even some "toys." I believe that this was a wonderful and philanthropic idea. It persists to this day. Other than that, there was never a real Santa Claus.
I wish you well. Peace, Love and God Bless.
2007-12-02 08:31:12 · answer #3 · answered by In God We Trust 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
The Santa Claus tradition comes from Nicholas Claus the Bishop of Ulm in Germany hundreds of years ago. This real person was also mixed as time went by with the ancient psuedo-pagan mythical figure of Father Christmas. Nicholas of Ulm used to pass out gifts to poor kids at Christmas from a horse drawn sleigh. He was cannonized (made a saint)after his death by the Catholic church.
Santa Claus is real because he was already declared a saint. Therefore, if he is a saint, he can perform miracles such as giving gifts to a mass number of good children
2007-12-02 09:02:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Saint Nicholas replaced right into a Turkish Christian bishop. He died over 1000 years in the past and his tomb is in Italy. i anticipate you're thinking the greater customary version of Santa this is merely over inflated with myths. the unique Saint Nicholas replaced into beneficiant. He threw money right into a house and the money landed in a sock that replaced into drying in front of the fire place.
2016-09-30 11:13:51 · answer #5 · answered by lindholm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there was a Saint Nicholas, but I don't believe the miracles attributed to him were real.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
2007-12-02 08:39:15 · answer #6 · answered by Robin W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once real???
He's always real!
I've just been a naughty boy and I don't get stuff from him anymore.
2007-12-02 08:34:29 · answer #7 · answered by Dave C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when xmas comes, and i get a gift from someone i consider them my santa.
2007-12-02 08:37:17 · answer #8 · answered by BUTTERFLY 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you serious?.... no one could be like that lie.
2007-12-02 09:10:26 · answer #9 · answered by 1 MAROON 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋