Santa Claus in America
Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, has given rise to a multitude of ancillary traditions, such as Christmas trees and gift-giving, but perhaps no tradition is more pervasive in modern America than the mythical figure of Santa Claus. Imagined as a jolly fat man with a flowing white beard in a heavy red suit, he is considered to have evolved from an historical figure, Saint Nicholas, whose habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus. Even today, Santa Claus is often referred to as Saint Nick.
However, the story of Santa Claus as a man who lives at the North Pole but leaves every Christmas Eve on a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer to deliver presents to children all over the world is a fairly recent development.
Many Christians are understandably nervous about the emphasis on Santa Claus at Christmastime, fearing that it replaces the “true meaning” of the season, which is a remembrance of the Incarnation of Christ, born of a Jewish virgin in a stable in Bethlehem. Others are reluctant to tell children that Santa Claus is real, as they see that as not being entirely truthful.
JBS Member or ShopJBS.org Customer?
Sign in with your ShopJBS.org account username and password or use that login to subscribe.
Subscribe Now
- 24 Issues Per Year
- Digital Edition Access
- Exclusive Subscriber Content
- Audio provided for all articles
- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime.
- Renews automatically
Subscribe Now
- 24 Issues Per Year
- Print edition delivery (USA)
*Available Outside USA - Digital Edition Access
- Exclusive Subscriber Content
- Audio provided for all articles
- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime.
- Renews automatically