Christians frequently bemoan the fact that Christmas has become such a secular holiday - one so focused on materialism.  The biggest culprit and symbol of all that is wrong with the season: Santa Claus.  But we Christians can "fight back" by taking back what is rightfully ours: Santa Claus.  The Santa Claus myth that we have today is actually the story of a Christian Saint - St. Nicholas of Myra from the 4th Century A.D. 

Now, the whole sled and reindeer and North Pole story has been fabricated by different cultures over time, but the idea of gift-giving that we have today comes from St. Nick.  Born to wealthy parents in 270 A.D. in what is today Turkey, he lost them both when he was young.  Nicholas was a Christian who followed Christ's words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor."  He spent his inheritence on providing for those need.  He became a pastor and later, a bishop and was known for his generosity.  There is the story told of a man with three daughters.  He was poor and could not afford a dowry for prospective husbands.  His daughters were in danger of being sold into slavery.  The story goes that at three different times bags of gold were tossed by the good Bishop into an open window and landed in stockings that were drying by the fire - leading to the custom of hanging stockings at the fireplace to be filled by St. Nick.  The stories of St. Nicholas spread throughout Europe.  In Holland, he was known as "Sinterklaas" - which when Anglicanized, became "Santa Claus."

Bishop Nicholas of Myra suffered under the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian.  He was also present at the Council of Nicaea.  Nicholas died on December 6, 343 and is buried in the cathedral church of Myra.

Claim the story of Santa Claus back from the world of stores and shopping and excess by telling the story of St. Nicholas to your children.  Tell them why we give gifts at Christmas just as old St. Nick did - to remember with gratitude God's gift to us: Jesus Christ.