Santa Claus Through The Ages

Long ago, during the eighth and ninth centuries in Britain and Ireland, people observed the time of year that is today know as the Christmas season. Back then however, there was nothing fun or pleasant about that time. These Celts believed that with the shortened span of daylight during winter months, the sun was dying away. Since they believed that malevolent spirits haunted the darkness, it was feared that the demons would sicken or kill anyone who was wicked or sinful. Thus, at this time of year everyone suddenly became kind and generous to the needy and gift giving was widespread. The Celts hoped that their gods were seeing their generosity and would spare their lives.

Unsurprisingly, when, in the ninth and tenth centuries, missionaries arrived in the area, they found it impossible to make people rethink the fearful perspective they had on Yule. So, instead of completely banishing the idea, the missionaries decided to alter the existing generosity of the season to reflect a celebration of the birthday of an old saint named Nicholas. Old Saint Nicholas lived in Myra in the fourth century and was known to be very generous and jolly. Since his birthday was December 6, in the heart of the Yule season, he was an excellent character to use for that reason. Gradually the people began to accept this as the reason for Yuletide generosity.

As the decades passed however, the prospect of the holiday season became more cheery. Eventually December 6 became a holiday synonymous with public revelry, feasting and drunkenness en masse. During this season of frenzied festivities any and all crimes were not only expected but were accepted and overlooked as part of the fun. It was a time when you could literally get away with murder.

Later a modern form of the old Saint was introduced to revive the spirituality of the holiday. He was Sinterklaas, the Scandinavian predecessor to today’s American Santa Claus. He had a long white beard, wore a white priest’s robe with a long red cape and had a mitre or bishop’s hat. He carried a book containing the names of all the children, good or bad, and crook with strange designs worked into the hook.

Image via Wikipedia