Having small, simple surprises on St. Nicholas Day makes a bright spot in early Advent while providing the opportunity to talk about the real St. Nicholas.

When my children were growing up we had both St. Nicholas and Santa. However, Santa only filled stockings and other gifts were not from him, other than the odd small thing that might have gotten “Santa” written on the tag. We always talked about “. . . many days until Jesus’ birth” not “how many days until Santa comes.” It is all a question of how you place emphasis in your family. When children asked questions, I’d usually respond with, “what do you think?”

There is growing interest in recovering St. Nicholas. Many churches, families, and schools do celebrate St. Nicholas Day–with simple treats, charitable collections, and other good deeds. Do visit http://www.stnicholascenter.org for ideas for celebrating at home, church or school, as well as information, customs from around the world, and resources including recipes, books, crafts, activities and more.

Yes, the elves, North Pole, all that is silly (if any children should stumble on this post, please be aware that this is an adults only discussion and ignore it), but I don’t think the central lessons of Nicholas’s life is lost in his role as Santa Claus.

I highly recommend the A & E “Biography of Santa Claus”, it goes into great detail about the life of the actual man. It is amazing to me that some of the traditions, esp. the stockings by the fire go back to the actual historical Saint, although they may indeed by myths.

I think this shows great staying power on the part of St. Nick, and like St. Valentine, I think he deserves respect for keeping his “brand” out there even in such a secular world.

I have tried to start a little tradition of sending gifts to my daughter and niece and nephew on St. Nicholas’s day, but sadly my job is so busy in December that I haven’t had much success with my plan.

Not so far, but next year I’ll try to remember this post and do better.

I like the other poster’s suggestion about doing some good works on that day too.

Since you referred to me by name, I thought I’d comment.

My legal name is Santa Claus, and I’m a Christian Monk and consecrated Bishop, as St. Nicholas was many centuries ago. I believe that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, not the crass, commercial, secular spectacle it has become in many places, and that the greatest gift one can give is love, not presents.

I also serve as a volunteer advocate for the millions of children in the U.S. annually who are abused, neglected, exploited, abandoned, homeless, and institutionalized through no fault of their own.

Personally, I’d like to see Santa Claus most closely aligned with the Feast of St. Nicholas. I think parents should volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter and bring their children along to instill or rekindle compassion for others.

It would be wonderful, as well, if parents would make a donation, in their child’s name, to a local charity that provides for the health, safety, and welfare of less fortunate children, and let their own child know that is their gift.

After all, it is the presence, not presents, that counts.

Blessings to all, Santa Claus

The Rt. Rev. Santa Claus, OAC
(TheSanta dot im)

That Pascha (Easter) is for us by far the Feast of Feasts that overshadows the Nativity perhaps keeps us maintain our balance. So, too, the liturgical richness and spiritual importance of the Feast of the Theophany (Epiphany) on 6 January (which for us marks the Baptism in the Jordan, and not the Visitation of the Magi).

Then there is the Nativity Fast that begins on 14 (the Feast of St. Philip (14 November) and lasts until the Eve of the Nativity (24 December), which has the natural effect of dampening excessive pre-Festal celebrations.

The idea of an invisible eye, that sees our sins – or knows that we are naughty or nice – and that comes on Christmas, to reward or punish us, can be seen as a variation of the basic outline of Christianity, itself.