The Legend of Saint Nicholas

The Legend of Saint Nicholas:

Below is a Deep-Dive audio interview on the Legend that is Santa Claus…

The True Mission of Santa Claus

From the very beginning, the mission and vision of Saint Nicholas of Myra—the historical figure behind Santa Claus—has always been about honoring Jesus Christ and His gift to humanity. Unlike modern secular depictions of Santa Claus as a mere bringer of material gifts, the true Saint Nicholas was a bishop whose generosity flowed from his deep love for Christ and his desire to reflect the selfless gift of salvation offered to the world through the Incarnation of the Son of God.

Nicholas: A Servant of Christ’s Love
Born in the late 3rd century in Lycia, in what is now modern-day Turkey, Nicholas was raised in a devout Christian home. He understood from an early age that true wealth was not found in earthly possessions but in the grace of God and the service of others. Orphaned young and inheriting great wealth, he followed Christ’s command in Matthew 19:21:

“Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

He became known for anonymous acts of charity, the most famous being his rescue of three impoverished young women from slavery. Under the cover of night, he delivered three bags of gold to their home—some stories say he dropped them through the window, while others say they landed in stockings drying by the fireplace. This act of love foreshadowed what would later become the tradition of Christmas gift-giving—not as an end in itself, but as a reflection of Christ’s ultimate gift: His life for our salvation.

The True Gift: Christ Himself
As a bishop, Nicholas’ mission was to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His generosity was not just about meeting material needs but about bringing people to Christ, the source of eternal life. He understood that the greatest gift was not gold or earthly riches, but the grace and mercy of God. Every act of kindness, every meal given to the hungry, and every child blessed with warmth and care was done in the name of Jesus.

Unlike modern distortions of Santa Claus as a figure of consumerism, Saint Nicholas’ vision was always centered on Christ. He saw gift-giving as a way to imitate God’s self-giving love, reminding people that the ultimate gift was the one given in Bethlehem—the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Defender of the True Faith
Nicholas was not only a giver of gifts but a fierce defender of the truth. At the Council of Nicaea (325 AD), he stood against the heretic Arius, who denied the divinity of Christ. Nicholas knew that Jesus was not merely a great teacher or prophet, but truly God Incarnate. Tradition holds that in his passion for Christ, Nicholas struck Arius across the face—not out of malice, but in righteous anger against a doctrine that threatened to lead many astray.

For this, Nicholas was briefly reprimanded, but later, the council affirmed that he had acted out of zeal for the honor of Christ. His steadfast defense of Orthodox Christianity ensured that future generations would worship Jesus as He truly is: The Son of God, begotten before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God.

The Spirit of Saint Nicholas Lives On
As the centuries passed, devotion to Saint Nicholas spread across Christendom. He became the patron saint of children, the poor, sailors, and travelers. His feast day, December 6, became a time to remember his selfless love and devotion to Christ. In Western Europe, his legacy merged with Christmas traditions, and by the time Dutch settlers brought Sinterklaas to America, his name evolved into Santa Claus.

But in all the transformations, one truth remains:
The real Saint Nicholas always pointed people to Christ.

Restoring the True Mission of Santa Claus
In today’s world, Christmas has become overly commercialized, often obscuring its true meaning. But Saint Nicholas would remind us that giving is not about consumerism or indulgence—it is about reflecting the love of God. He would urge us to remember that:

Every act of charity should be done in the name of Jesus.
Every gift given should reflect the ultimate gift: Christ Himself.
Christmas is not about Santa, but about the Savior whom Nicholas served.
So, when children set out stockings and hear tales of Santa Claus, let us restore the true vision of Saint Nicholas—not as a mere legend of gift-giving, but as a real man who lived to honor Jesus and share His love with the world.

Santa Claus is not just a story of presents under the tree. He is the story of a Catholic bishop who dedicated his life to proclaiming the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world

The Balad of Saint Nicholas
a SantaAZ original — © 2025 SantaAZ.com all rights reserved

Lyrics:

[Spoken Intro — soft fiddle and flute play a gentle melody]

“Come close, me friends, and I’ll spin ye a tale,
Of a saint from the east, ‘neath the sea breeze so pale.
Not a jolly old man with a sleigh in the sky,
But a bishop of Christ, who let mercy fly high.
His hands gave out gold, but his heart gave out more—
The love of the Savior, from mountain to shore.
So raise up your glass, and lend me your ear,
For the Ballad of Nicholas is what you’ll now hear…”

(The flute lilts, the bodhrán taps, and the melody begins.)

[Verse 1]

🎶 In Lycia’s land where the warm winds roam,
Young Nicholas grew in a faithful home.
When riches were left in his hands one day,
He gave them to others and sent wealth away.

Three maidens in trouble, with futures so bleak,
Found gold in their stockings one cold winter’s week.
Dropped under the moon by a hand they ne’er saw,
Yet the gift spoke of Christ and His merciful law. 🎶

[Chorus] (Lively and heartfelt)

🎶 Oh, Nicholas, kind-hearted and bold,
With pockets of mercy, not silver nor gold,
Through stormy seas or a snow-covered land,
He carried Christ’s love with a generous hand. 🎶

[Verse 2]

🎶 But Nicholas gave more than treasures untold,
He guarded the truth with a spirit of old.
At the council of Nye-SEE-uh, where bishops did meet,
He stood for the Christ, and would not face defeat.

When Arius claimed that the Son was less,
Nicholas rose with a heart in distress.
“For Christ is our Lord, the Light from the Light!”
And his voice rang through history, still burning bright. 🎶

[Chorus]

🎶 Oh, Nicholas, kind-hearted and bold,
With pockets of mercy, not silver nor gold,
Through stormy seas or a snow-covered land,
He carried Christ’s love with a generous hand. 🎶

[Verse 3] (Joyful, as the melody swells)

🎶 Now centuries passed, and the tales grew wide,
Till Santa was born with a sleigh as his ride.
But under the red and the ribbons we see,
The heart of a bishop, humble and free.

So when gifts are unwrapped and stockings are hung,
Let Christ be the song that’s still softly sung.
For Nicholas’ life was a light in the cold,
A story of love, far richer than gold. 🎶

[Final Chorus] (Full harmony, voices rise together)

🎶 Oh, Nicholas, kind-hearted and bold,
With pockets of mercy, not silver nor gold,
Through stormy seas or a snow-covered land,
He carried Christ’s love with a generous hand. 🎶

🎶 Oh, Nicholas, saint of the sea and the shore,
Whisper Christ’s love forevermore! 🎶

[Spoken Outro — soft flute and fiddle fade-out]

“So this Christmas, remember the man in the red,
Not for sleigh bells or stockings or feasts that are spread.
But for love that runs deeper, from heaven above—
The gift of the Christ Child, wrapped up in His love.”

🎄 “And that, me friends, is the true heart of Christmas.” 🎄

(Fiddle and flute softly intertwine as the ballad fades, leaving a warm, reflective echo.)