By Gavin Boyle
While Santa Claus is a beloved Christmas figure, not many know that he was actually inspired by a real life Saint Nicholas who performed a miracle by giving a gift without expecting anything in return.
“His historical figure and the stories about him gave rise to the character we now know as Santa Claus. This all stems from one particular miracle he performed,” Eternal Word Television Network (ETWN) explained. “He learned that a family had fallen into poverty, into misfortune, a terrible financial distress so that the three daughters of this family, not having a dowry to marry, were destined for prostitution…Saint Nicholas learned of this, so at night, without being seen by anyone, he went near the house of this family and with a leather bag full of gold coins, he placed gold coins and threw them through the window to the family.”
Related: Author Wayne Van Der Wal Explores The Real-Life Story of Saint Nicholas in New Book
“In the morning, the father who heard the noise got up and saw this bag of gold coins and thanking the sisters, used this money to provide a dowry for his daughter who was able to get married,” ETWN continued. “But there were two other daughters, and Saint Nicholas performed this act two more times…The act of giving without seeking recognition continues to inspire the city that loves him, bringing aid and hope to those in need.”
This story of Saint Nicholas can encourage us today as it reveals that the present-giving holiday that Christmas has turned into is not simply an expression of materialism. Rather, those engaging in the act are, to some degree, emulating Saint Nicholas and his charity.
“I had been frustrated with the materialism of Christmas for a long time,” author Wayne Van Der Wal said when discussing a book he wrote about Saint Nicholas. “I desired to make Christmas more meaningful for my children and me, so when I started researching more about Santa Claus/St. Nick connection, [I discovered] wow, not only was he a real person, but he had a fascinating life story.”
Portrayals of the true Saint Nicholas have even found their way into pop culture at times. For example, the Disney+ show THE SANTA CLAUSES featured a storyline where the main character discussed the origins of Santa Claus coming from Saint Nicholas.
For all the holidays that Americans celebrate throughout the year that seem to be devoid of a Christian spirit, it is encouraging that even those who engage with the gift giving side of Christmas are still interacting with a Christian story.
Read Next: Is This Really Saint Nicholas?
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