Of course, Santa is real! Since there is no definitive evidence that flying reindeer live or don’t live at the North Pole, we’ll just have to keep an open mind. However, Santa Claus, or rather St. Nicholas, was very real indeed!
Before he became a saint, Nicholas was born to a wealthy Christian family in what we now know as the southern coast of Turkey. When his parents died, he took Jesus’ words, “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” to heart. Nicholas used his whole inheritance to help those around him. He soon became famous for his generosity and care, especially for children, and was made the Bishop of Myrna while still a young man.
Many of the Christmas traditions we love today are based on the good deeds of St. Nicholas! One story tells of sisters whose father was too poor to provide them with a dowry. Because they had no dowry, their chances of marrying were small. One evening, St. Nicholas anonymously tossed through the window a bag of gold for each sister providing them with the money they needed to marry! It’s said that the family had their stockings hanging by the fire to dry and the bags of gold fell right inside!
Would you like to explore more about how St. Nicholas has become part of our favorite Christmas traditions? Below are links to some online resources filled with stories, games, art projects and more!
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