Santa Claus is the modern day successor of St Nick. But to be honest saying Santa Claus is just like St Nicholas is like saying Snoop Dogg is just like Martin Luther King because they're both black and talk about race and money. On the one hand we have big fat well fed Santa who visits all of the world all of the rich developed world and gives presents and well, the richer you are the more extravagant your presents are going to be. St Nicholas on the other hand used his entire inheritance to help the poor, sick, and children in need. He gave in secret, expecting nothing in return. He saved young women from slavery, protected sailors, spared innocents from execution, provided grain in a famine and rescued a kidnapped boy. Unlike fat jolly Santa, St Nicholas often looked as grumpy as all get out.
I'm going to guess that in a life given that was given to serving the poor, he didn't suffer fools gladly. Most famously at the council of Nicea he got so irritated by Arius rambling on about how he didn't like the idea of the trinity St Nicholas slapped him in the face. Tell Nicholas his memory had been usurped by a fat man handing out presents to the wealthiest quarter of the world and I reckon there'd be fireworks. So if you want honour the legend of St Nicholas find yourself a Santa and slap them in the face or buy something from TEAR's gift catalogue.
This post was inspired by / stolen from this post by Peter Enns
This post was inspired by / stolen from this post by Peter Enns
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