Isnt Santa Claus Acceptable

1
Isnt Santa ClausAcceptable?
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
so let him give not grudgingly, or of necessity
for God loveth a cheerful giver. II Corinthians
97
2

• Santa Claus is based on Christian principles and
  The example of Christian men Unselfish giving,
  loving nature, and devotion to duty
• Root?
• St. Nicholas of Bari
• Son of wealthy parents
• Born in 300s AD in Patara, Lycia
• ( currently part of Turkey)
• When his parents died, he inherited all
• of the money and distributed to the
• needy in his hometown
• Archbishop of Myra in his twenties
• Known for his generosity
• Claimed as a patron saint
• Died in Dec. 6 in late 340s or early
• 350s
• Nicholas Day on Dec 6, celebration

3

• Duke of Borivoy
• Born in Bohemia in 907
• At fifteen he became a leader based on trust,
  faith, mercy
• Murdered by his twin brother in 929 when
• he was 22 years old
• Song, Good Wenceslas was written concern-
• ing the duke
• Santa in other countries
• In Germany Weinachtsman, or Christmas Man
• He was the principal hero of the Christmas, but
  rather a helper to Christ child and helped
  distributing gifts to children
• In France Pere Noel took over Nicholass job
• He brings special cake, cookies, or candy and
  place them in children shoes

4

• In Russia Father Frost distributes toys in
  January
• In England Father Christmas
• More than 150 years passed since St. Nick
• was not mentioned in America after the
• Puritans banned St. Nick
• 30 years later, Americans recognized St. Nicholas
  as a patron saint. English-speaking children
  found Sinterklaas, Dutch name for St. Nick
  strange. They pronounced Santy Claus and it
  became Americanized, but eventually it evolved as
  Santa Claus.
• Washington Irving wrote A History of New York and
  described Santa Claus as a round little man in
  Dutch costume up to his knee traveling in flying
  horse-drawn wagon.

5

• Clement Clarke Moore , a bishop of the Episcopal
  church in New York City and professor at General
  Theological Seminary, wrote The Night Before
  Christmas.
• He helped established the tradition that Santa
  Claus
• arrives on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, not on the
  eve of St. Nicholas Day or Jan. 6, the day of
  Epiphany.

6
Nast in 1869
Sundblom in 1959
While the appearances of Santa Claus were
invented by men, Santas heart and spirit were
inspired by the love and generosity of men such
as St. Nicholas and Wenceslas. Praise God for
people who reach out to help the needy.