We all know Santa, he’s the jolly, round, old guy who lives at the North Pole. Santa Claus devotes his life to making children happy by gifting them with toys and gifts that he places under their Christmas trees while they are sleeping on Christmas Eve. Santa has a stable of magical flying reindeer with mystical names (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, oh and of course Rudolf, the most famous of all), and a workshop full of busy little elves. He accomplishes this herculean feat with the help of his loyal reindeer, the elves, and..magic ;) We of course know all of this, but who is Santa? Really? Well, that is a question not easily answered. After researching the history of Santa, it seems there is no true answer. Santa Claus is really a combination of different characters so complex and shrouded with mystery that it would literally take a whole volume to tell the story, but I will attempt to tell the story of some of Santa’s past.
A ways back in time, at some point in the fourth or fifth centuries, there lived St. Nicholas, who was a bishop in the Catholic Church. It is said that this man was rich, and stories abound that speak of his generosity. In one story St. Nicholas gave some impoverished young girls bags of gold so that they could have a dowry, and might therefore find husbands before their fathers could sell them into slavery. St. Nicholas did this under the cover of darkness, and anonymously. Another story tells of how St. Nicholas brought back to life murdered youths. Fascinating, yes?
A part of Santa’s character is credited to the Norse god Odin, the most powerful of all the Norse gods, much the same position as Zeus of Greek mythology. It is said that Odin would fly through the night sky with a pack of elves and spirits rewarding his believers with gifts. Odin was also able to cure disease and tell the future. People would leave provender out for Odin’s horse.
Father Christmas is yet another figure. It is said that this old world character got some of his magic from Melchior, the oldest of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem, bringing gifts to baby Jesus.
Who is Santa? Well, I guess we should go by the story we have been told from the time we were children. Santa lives at the North Pole, is eternally jolly, generous to a fault, and he is loved and adored by all who choose to believe in the magic. It doesn’t matter where he came from or who he really is because Santa Claus is, in essence the spirit of Christmas.
---Stephie
