Finding Santa Claus

When Santa Claus comes to town, it's easy to miss what Santa Claus is about. We want what Santa Claus has in his bag rather than seeing what Santa Claus is modeling for us. What’s he modeling? He is giving to give, not giving to get. Then, we tie Santa to our performance. The Santa song says, “So be good for goodness’ sake.” That’s when people start getting Santa Claus-trophobia. Santa Claus-trophobia is when people give out of obligation because culture requires it. And we give because it makes us feel good about ourselves and impresses others. That’s called virtue signaling.  

This kind of giving, whether intentionally or unintentionally, is selfish, not selfless. The problem is most people don't even know the motive of their giving. It’s just our accumulation-orientated, “It’s all about me” culture.

Let me illustrate ‘giving to get’ from a poster I saw on social media. It’s a selfie that a woke type of guy took of himself giving some money to a beggar on the street. He’s the center of attention in his selfie so that he can post his picture on social media. That's shallow, don’t you agree? He's giving to get, not giving to give. He likely doesn't know it, but he's using others to feel good about himself or to impress others.

What’s happening above has happened before. Jesus mentioned this type of ‘giving to get’ when some religious leaders living in Jerusalem would parade in the town square, giving their tithes and alms with great fanfare for everyone to see. This type of giving is giving but with a wrong motive. That’s not what Jesus or the first Santa is about. 

Let’s discover the real Santa Claus by going back to the first Santa Claus. His name was St. Nicolas. I will quote from a book entitled There Really Is a Santa Claus. The book is written by Bill Federer, a friend of mine and a meticulous researcher who lives in the Metro-Phoenix area.

“St. Nicholas was the most renowned saint in early Greek Orthodox tradition, equivalent to St. Peter in Catholic tradition. He was as popular to Greeks and later Russians as St. Patrick was to the Irish or as Saint Boniface (Winifred) was to the Germans. 

Greek Orthodox tradition tells of Saint Nicholas being born around AD 280, the only child of a wealthy, elderly couple who lived in Patara, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). When his parents died in a plague, Nicholas inherited their wealth. Nicholas generously gave to the poor, but he did so anonymously, wanting the glory to go to God. 

One notable incident during this time in Nicholas' life was when a merchant in his town went bankrupt. The creditors threatened to take his house, property, and children. The merchant had three daughters. He knew if the creditors took them, it would probably condemn them to tragic lives of forced marriages, sex trafficking, or prostitution.

The merchant had the idea of quickly marrying his daughters off so the creditors could not take them. Unfortunately, he did not have money for a dowry needed in that area of the world for a legally recognized wedding. Nicholas heard of the merchant's dilemma and late one night threw a bag of money in the window for the oldest daughter's dowry. Supposedly, the money bag landed in a shoe or a stocking that was drying by the fireplace. It was the talk of the town when the first daughter was able to get married. 

Nicholas then threw a bag of money in the window for the second daughter, and she was able to get married. Expecting money for his third daughter, the merchant waited up. When Nicholas threw the money in, the father ran outside and caught him. Nicholas promised the father not to tell where the money came from, as he wanted the credit to go to God alone.

St. Nicholas's actions were the origin of secret, midnight gift-giving and hanging stockings by the fireplace on the anniversary of Saint Nicholas's death, December 6, 343 AD. The three bags of money Nicholas threw into the house are remembered by the three gold balls hung outside of pawnbroker shops - as they present themselves as rescuing families in their financial need. As a result of this giving, Nicholas became considered the "patron saint" of pawnbrokers. 

After Nicholas had given away all his money, he decided to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he intended to join the secluded Monastery of Sion. Before making his final vows to join, the Lord impressed upon him "not to hide his light under a bushel." He decided to go back to Asia Minor, but not before visiting the birthplace of Jesus. 

Mark Twain wrote in Innocents Abroad, 1869, of visiting the Church of the Nativity: "This spot where the very first 'Merry Christmas' was uttered in all the world, and from whence the friend of my childhood, Santa Claus, departed on his first journey, to gladden and continue to gladden roaring firesides on wintry mornings in many a distant land forever and forever."

Rick Warren says we are never more like God than when we give. I might make an addition to Warren’s quote: We give to give without any credit or attachments. God gave His Son (Christmas), Jesus gave His life (Easter), and the Holy Spirit gave us empowerment (Pentecost). 

You didn’t just find Nemo; you found the first authentic historical Santa Claus. Have fun this Christmas, and it is fine to feel good about giving, but don't forget what the first Santa modeled for us: we give to give, not to get. We give just because it’s the God and good thing to do. And please, no selfies.