On Advent Route - Dec. 6

December 6, 2025

I meet St. Nicholas of the 4th century of the year of the Lord on the advent route on December 6th. 

St. Nicholas of Myra of Greece. In our circles, the name was uttered as 'Nikolaus'. I had a neighbour, the elder brother of my close friend from school days, with that name. 

St. Nicholas is said to have been morphed into the present-day Santa Claus — and perhaps with good reason too!

Santa Claus at Bengaluru Airport T1

A man of deep faith from a Christian family, Nicholas embraced a life of generosity and humility. Tradition holds that he wished to remain an ascetic monk, but his leadership qualities did not go unnoticed. He was eventually chosen — according to some accounts, almost by acclamation — to shepherd the Diocese of Myra (in present-day Turkey).

He lived during turbulent times. Under Emperor Diocletian, Nicholas was imprisoned and persecuted for his faith, and later released and reinstated when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity.

Centuries after his death, when the region came under Muslim rule, the question of safeguarding his relics became intense. Two Italian cities — Bari and Venice — made competing claims for them. In 1087, sailors from Bari, Italy, successfully transported the major relics of St. Nicholas to their city, where they remain enshrined in the Basilica di San Nicola.

St. Nicholas was widely revered in the Eastern and Western Churches. He is mentioned and praised by St. Methodius of Constantinople in the 9th century, reflecting the deep and long-standing devotion surrounding his life.

He becomes a fitting 'Adventist' because of his well-known compassion toward the poor. The most famous story concerns a Christian nobleman who, crushed by poverty and unable to provide dowries for his three daughters, even contemplated ending his life in despair. Learning of this, Nicholas secretly delivered the needed amount to the man’s home in three separate instalments, each gift enabling the marriage of one daughter. When the gift arrived for the third time, the grateful father kept watch and discovered the benefactor’s identity. Thus Nicholas’s hidden act of charity became widely known and celebrated.

Perhaps Santaclaus' association with surprise gifts for the kids is derived from this story and the related disposition of the great saint. 

It was said to be a Dutch tradition (Sinterklass), transformed into Santa Claus through the Dutch settlers in the US (New Amsterdam - later, New York), which, in due course, got thoroughly commercialised thanks to the famed American work 'Twas the Night before Christmas' (Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St Nicholas” 1823) and the mega business Coca-Cola popularising his red outfit.  

For people like us, who grew up in the Christian neighbourhoods of Keralam, Santa Claus was Pappanji, most likely derived from the Portuguese (parangi/firangi) influence in our region. In UP where I live now, they call him 'Santa' (सेंटा) In those days, to have one Pappanji with the costume was itself a luxury. In the 21st century - post in such celebrations, there is an abundance - of costumes, decorations and goodies of the season. The world is tending to be an 'Affluent Society' (JK Galbraith, 1958).  While there are pockets of goodness even today, as it used to be then, there is more of commerce and market dictating terms, and Santaclaus is more of Commerce than goodness; and the pity is that the culture generates a huge amount of waste, making the planet lose much of its goodness. 

And despite the affluence, there are still a greater number of people than ever before suffering from hunger, malnutrition and several other deprivations of what are considered basic to a (dignified) human existence. 

That should serve as a caution for all of us, as would the carol chant: 

You better watch out, you better not pout
You better not cry, I am telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town!

But Santa is only a pointer to that ultimate source of goodness, who we venerate as 'dwelt among us'. In Santa Claus the tradition of the kindly saint Nicholas, who cared for kids (legend) and hence is thought to bring gifts for children on his anniversary day of December 6th and the idea of Child Jesus (Kris Kindl) bringing children gifts during Christmas, as said to have been popularised by the protestant leader Martin Luther as a substitute to the veneration of a Catholic saint are combined - both the Dutch and German settlers in America gradually evolving the idea of a Christmas Father who combines the Christmas message of goodness and the tradition of the great love for children by St Nicholas*. Thus, we have the modern-day Santa Claus bringing gifts for children during the Christmas season. 

May the kind and compassionate St. Nicholas' life inspire us, with the affirmative 'yes, we too can'. 

The Eco-friendly Papa
*It is interesting to note that St Nicholas has evolved to be a great saint, kind to all, including animals. He is environment-friendly as he rides the non-polluting sledge pulled by smart reindeers. And Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, who was lonely and foresaken was recognized by Santa Claus and brought into his team, thus boosting the morale of the otherwise ridiculed little reindeer. (Carol - Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer).