Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas and the plethora of other names by which he is known have somewhat merged in our century, but were originally different characters with varying origins. Nicholas was most important in Russia as its patron saint; he also had many followers, especially among children, in Central Europe, the Low Countries, and the northern part of France and Switzerland. The idea, however, seemed to come out of pre-Christian Scandinavia, in the person of Odin, who rode throughout the world in wither on his eight-footed horse, Sleipnir, giving out gifts or punishments. From him have sprung other Santas - Knecht Ruprecht with his bag of goodies and switches; Father Christmas perched atop a ram, and down to our own Santa Claus, in his sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. The other tradition that contributed to Santa's development came from the idea of the "child-bishop." During the three weeks prior to December 28 (the Slaughter of the Innocents), convent schools would choose a "child-bishop," representative of Christ, to rule the school. November 11 was designated as the beginning - Fool's Day - when the poor would dress up, follow him, and go door to door, entertaining people in hope of gaining something to eat. There was a very practical side to this - the poor, during the harsh winter, needed the benevolence of the better off to see them through. Not wishing to be regarded beggars, it gave them a way of getting food without being categorized as beggars. Some of this tradition is still carried out in England, where children will go house to house and receive candy or small amounts of money.

By the turn of this century, the Santa Claus tradition had nearly died out, until postcards began to come out with pictures of the Feast of St. Nicholas on them, depicting him as a bishop, and accompanied by a helper, Krumpus, wearing a devil's mask and carrying a bag of switches and canes for bad children. In Germany first, then in other countries, the celebration of Santa Claus became tied with Christmas Eve. Then, with the Advent of Clement Moore's and Thomas Nast's jolly elf, Santa became a permanent fixture of Christmas in the United States. From here, our modern-day Santa has traveled all over the world again, expressing the desire of people everywhere, that Christmas be a time of gift-giving, of sharing and showing love - and especially a time for children.

St. Nicholas, a popular and kindly bishop, was imprisoned during the Roman persecutions of Diocletian in the Fourth century. He was later freed by Constantine. Today his body rests in Bari, Italy. He had been a wealthy man, who became a bishop early in life, and became known for his generosity and love of children - who were generally little valued in the culture of the time. According to tradition, he would leave little gifts in the shoes of poor children, which the children would leave out on the front stoop over night. One story says that an impoverished nobleman was about to sell his three daughters into prostitution; the bishop, at night, threw three small bags filled with gold through their window, while they were asleep, so that they would have a dowry. Thus he became the patron saint of young women of marriageable age. Sailors also believed that he had the power to stop gales, so that he also became the patron saint of sailors. Over time, St. Nicholas became a legend, particularly to needy Christians. In Holland, his name was translated as "Sinter Klaas," from which we get his modern name, "Santa Claus."

Virginia O'Hanlon

115 West Ninety-fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible to their little minds.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We would have no enjoyment except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! . . . The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world . . .

There is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of the strongest men that ever lived can tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside the curtain and view the picture, the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else more real . . .

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever.

Francis P. Church

The Sun, New York City

September 21, 1897

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck . . .

How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "elves;"

"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves!

And labor conditions at the North Pole

Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished, with out much propriety,

Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear

That Santa had better not use just reindeer.

So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,

Were replace with four pigs, and you know that looks stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;

The ruts were termed dangerous by the EPA.

And people had started to call for the cops

When they heard sled noises on their rooftops!

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite

frightened.

His fur-trimmed red suit was called, "unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,

Rudolph was suing over unauthorized use of his nose!

And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,

Demanding millions in overdue compensation!

So half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,

Who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life,

joined a self-help group, packed and left in a whiz,

Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the fits, why, he'd ne'er had a notion

That making a choice could cause such a commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,

which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.

Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.

Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.

Nothing that's warlike or nonpacific.

No candy or sweets . . . they were bad for the tooth.

Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.

And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,

Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological

Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football . . . someone could get hurt;

Besides playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;

And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;

He could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,

But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;

Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might

Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,

Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every hue,

Everyone, everywhere . . . even you!

So here is that gift, its price beyond worth . . .

"May you and your loved ones enjoy Peace on Earth!"

Harvey Ehrilich, 1996

You may know me. I've changed a little over the years. Many of you remember me as a jolly little man in a red suit - perhaps a little heavier than now (Too many cookies!). With all the emphasis on health these days, Mrs. Claus made me go on a diet! Ho! Ho! Ho! Made me get rid of my corncob pipe, too! But for the most part, I haven't changed. I still love the children, and they still call me, "Santa." That's originally from the Latin, "Sanctus," by the way, and means "holy," or "saint!" After all, that's what I really am - a saint! I've got a long history!

You'd never know it by looking at me, but I'm getting up there in years. I was born back in the fourth century, which makes me . . . about 1700 years old - give or take a few decades. My folks were pretty well off and, as a boy, I had a good education. Actually, not to blow my own horn, I was somewhat of a child prodigy. I was still a youngster when they made me Bishop of Myra - and ancient city in Rome. Funny - I've outlived that whole city! Anyway, they used to call me the "boy bishop." It was alright, and what I was doing was important, but I really didn't have a childhood like other kids, what with all the responsibilities of my office. It was hard at times. But I did like to buy little gifts for the poor children in town. I'd stick them in a stocking or a little bag and leave them on the doorsteps - made me feel good, even though I couldn't play with the kids. Guess that little child in me just never quite left.

Then came that rotten emperor, Diocletian. He was a nasty sort. I'll tell you, he never got any Christmas presents! Maybe that's why he was so bad. He threw me in jail, just for being a Christian. But that was better than what he did to many people in my church. Those were dark days! (sigh) But when Constantine became emperor, he finally released me.

Even in that day, people seemed to like me. Maybe it was because I love people so - especially children. When word got around how I left little gifts for children, people started celebrating "St. Nicholas Day" as a day for giving presents. I didn't mind, because it was really a festival for children, and people made sure all of the poor children got gifts that day. Of course, there were other stories people told about me too - most pretty fanciful. But the idea of St. Nicholas Day spread, to other towns and even to other countries. Otto II's wife spread the word around Germany, where they called me "Sankt Nikolaus" or "Weinachtsman." In Holland, I was called "Sinter Klaus." They had me dressed in knickers and smoking a long Dutch pipe - can you imagine that? Then I came to America, where they put me in a red suit, gave me a corncob pipe, and named me, "Santa Claus!" That's a long way from my bishop's miter and alb, but (Ho! Ho! Ho!), I don't mind one bit!

Sometimes all this buying presents - especially for people who already have too much - that kind of gets me down. It's not what Christmas is all about! But still, Christmas is for children, and for the young at heart. It's a time for giving gifts, and esecially for remembering poor children. And it's a time to remember that the greatest gift of all was given to us many years ago, in a little stable in Bethlehem.

Christmas is a time for remembering - not just for sleighbells, or Christmas trees, or cookies, and pretty lights. It's for remembering and sharing love - God's love. It's a time to let His love rule in our hearts. And that's really what I'm about, whether you call me Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas - or whatever else you want to call me.

I've tried, in my own way, to serve the Christ child, by serving those who, like him, had nothing. I see in the faces of every child, the face of Jesus, my dear Savior. And I know that it's there that He wants me to worship Him. That's why I'm so happy, too! Because giving brings me such joy! (laughs)

So - Merry Christmas! May this season fill your heart with joy! Remember the words of Francis Church, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus!" And, oh by the way . . . be sure to leave a couple of cookies for me by the fireplace! Ho! Ho! Ho!