The Four Faces of Santa Claus

Miracle on 34^th Street

The classic Oscar-winning Hollywood Christmas movie “Miracle on 34^th Street” (1947) tells the story of Kris Kringle, a genial elderly bearded man, who begins work at a large New York department store as the new store Santa after replacing a cynical drunk. The new Santa is a great success but actually believes he is Santa Claus and is institutionalized by the store’s psychologist. A young lawyer takes up his case arguing in court that he is the real Santa Claus, contrasting the simple generosity of Mr Kringle with the cynical consumerism of the day. You will want to believe in Santa Claus after seeing this film.

The 1947 film was remade under the same title in 1994 with few changes to the basic story. The only major change being that the cynical consumerism had reached a much higher level by the 90’s. We should have listened to Mr Kringle back in ’47!

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the Santa Claus season is celebrated from the arrival of Santa Claus on a white horse with his travelling companion Black Peter in mid-November to St. Nicholas Eve night on December 5^th. In the intervening weeks Santa Claus and Black Peter travel around the country checking that the children have been well-behaved. On the 5^th, there are family parties when surprise gifts signed “from Santa Claus” are exchanged with clever rhymes satirizing the recipient. Children receive spiced cookies, hard candies and chocolate sweets in return for leaving hay and carrots for the horse. The Dutch feast of St. Nicholas is about giving in a surprise and fun way rather than about the value of the gifts. 

The Ukraine

In the Ukraine, St. Nicholas has a history dating from the 10th century. Two St. Nicholas figures are celebrated in the Ukraine. “Cold” Nicholas, the winter saint, brings the first snows by shaking his beard. On St. Nicholas Day, 6^th December, gifts are exchanged and sleigh rides given. “Warm” Nicholas, the patron saint of farming, is celebrated in the spring when he walks over the wet land to dry it in preparation for planting the year’s crop.

Turkey

Today, pilgrims, especially from Russia, flock to the birthplace of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey. St. Nicholas is revered as a patron of Orthodox Christianity. In the 1950’s Turks officially recognized that the West’s Noel Baba or Father Christmas was actually their St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. Until recently an Orthodox liturgy was held annually  in the Church of St. Nicholas on the 6th of December, but this ceremony was banned from 2002 – 2006, though it was revived in 2007. The church has now been renamed the Father Christmas Museum which may prevent further services.

The differing views of Santa Claus are represented by three sculptures in the city of Demre. The first public statue of Saint Nicholas erected in 1981 is a genial Father Christmas figure holding a gift bag and surrounded by children. The second public statue of St. Nicholas is depicted as an Orthodox saint standing atop a globe of the world. The statue of St. Nicholas was replaced with a red plastic Santa Claus figure ringing a bell by the local council in 2005. Despite protests from Russia, the European Union and the United States, the plastic Santa Claus still stands.