Christmas is a time that is celebrated the world over and it generally denotes the birth of Jesus Christ. But many people associate Christmas with Santa Claus, and therefore ask the question, “What does Santa have to do with Christianity?” To answer this, one has to go back to the pious beginnings of the Christian Church.
Christmas is an important event in the Christian faith and with the birth of Jesus came the celebration of his “coming”. It was around the 5th century that the Church set December 25th as the date to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and so the traditional of Christmas began. During this time, there was a religious figure known as St. Nicholas who spread good cheer and propagated the Christian message whenever he visited. The combination of his loving energy and giving nature towards children and the poor eventually led to his folklore being known by a different name: Santa.
Because of the Church’s politically-driven desire to expand its control, it sought to incorporate existing folklore characters, such as Santa, with underlying religious events like Christmas. According to experts, such as Dr. Adrienne LaFrance, “The figure of Santa was tied to winter festivities of pagan origin , and as Christianity began to spread, pagan customs and Santa, or ‘St. Nicholas,’ merged to form today’s version of Santa!” This is the main connection that Santa has with the Christian faith — he can be found in parts of Christmas celebrations, as an additional way to spread the traditional holiday joy.
In regards to further connecting Santa to Christianity, Christmas carols and other festive songs have been composed over the centuries by many Christians, which do have a few mentions of Santa. Additionally, tradition of decorating homes and Christmas trees can be traced back to the 16th century, due to the influence of German Protestants. During this time, certain Christian families celebrated Christmas by using evergreen trees to symbolize everlasting life.
It is clear therefore, that Christmas and Santa have some form of connection to Christianity but, to be clear, Santa is still a secular figure today. He does not feature in the Bible, as he is a historical figure and in no way essential to the faith as Jesus Christ is. That said, it is possible to observe the Church’s efforts to bring the cheerful figure into its festive celebrations, to bring joy to children and increase overall engagement in a Christian context.
The Evolution Of Santa
Originally, Santa looked nothing like the jolly, rosy-cheeked man we all recognize today. He was much more stern-looking compared to his modern rendition, and wore a green or red academic robe. It was not until the 19th century that his image was completely changed to the friendly version of today, due to the influence of political cartoonist Thomas Nast, who had some artistic liberty with Santa.
Indeed, Santa is a representation of the Christian Christmas, as opposed to being regarded as an essential character in the faith itself, as he is not referenced in the Bible, unlike Jesus Christ and other saints from the Church. Rather, he is historical figure and can be observed in the festive elements synonymous with the Christmas holiday.
The Rise of Santa’s Popularity
With the combination of Christianity in his folklore and the increasing industrial revolution of the 19th-century, Santa rose in popularity, being reinforced in literature and a result of mass commercialisation. He is now a symbol of generosity and joy, one which is highly associated with Christmas.
By the late 19th century, companies started to latched onto the symbol of Santa and began to use him to sell toys, gifts and anything else they could. Not to mention his immense presence in films, TV shows, radio station and magazine. These, additional forms of media propelled Santa’s presence and face into several other countries and parts of the world, further solidifying his association with Christianity.
Dr. Shilpa Naik, sermon director at the University of California says that “Santa is incredibly woven with Christmas due to culture and willingness to rejoice in his charismas.Santa is a very pleasant figure who helps people be enthusiastic about the holiday, even more so for the young.”
The Role Of Santa Today
Although Santa is still fondly associated with Christmas and Christianity, he is no longer essential to the festive season; rather, he serves as an enjoyable figure for children.
In fact, in today’s world there is an increasing acceptance of people from other religions taking part in Christmas celebrations without having to believe in the religious story behind the holiday. This means that Santa’s role in Christmas activities does not have to come from a Christian perspective but can simply be enjoyed as a fun and charming legend of generous spirit and giving.
In countries and households that are steeped in traditions and faith, Santa is still seen in the Christmas celebrations. But he has evolved to no longer being seen as exclusively ‘Christian’ figure, but rather a secular one, consequently leading to the emergence of his secular associations.
Santa Claus In The 21st Century
Santa has gone through a lot of transformations in his lifetime, transitioning from a Catholic saint, to a festive figment of the imagination, to a commercialised icon. He has been increasingly integrated into many cultures, present as a benevolent figure in all sorts of lives with his warm, cheerful presence.
In the 21st Century, Santa has now become a symbol of hope, happiness and joy fully embraced by many parts of the world. From Coca-Cola advertising campaigns to North Pole themed parks and attractions, there’s no denying Santa’s popularity regardless of faith, or lack thereof.
Santa Feasts and Celebrations
Nowadays, Santa is often used as figurehead for celebratory feasts, especially in countries such as the United States. It has become tradition for many people to decorate dinner tables with tablecloths, cutlery and centrepieces of a Santa-inspired theme, from figurines and snowmen, to frosted cookies, often in the form of a beard.
Elaborate decorations for homes and outdoor areas have also been popular throughout the fashion of ‘Santa-ifying’ their living spaces. People use snow man figurines, reindeer lights and bright stars to create a merry atmosphere, enabling them to enjoy the holiday without having to identify with a certain faith or belief.
Santa In The World Of Social Media
Social media has swiftly become the go-to destination for Santa-enthusiasts, with top digital influencers and all manner of celebrities getting in on the action, posting photos of celebratory events, holiday experiences and funny memes.
Social media has allowed Santa Claus to be able to reach a huge audience, one that surpasses countries, boundaries and religions. His popularity is no longer focused on the standard Christian followers and is instead an inclusive figure of the modern digital scene. This is evident in the mass scale of news stories online and the silly jokes of internet trends.
The Controversy Of Santa
This is not say that there is no controversy related to the connection of Christmas and Santa Clause’s role in it. Certain parts of the world find it hard to embrace the Christian elements of the holiday and dislike the associations their religion is being associated with an ancient pagan figure.
Even within the Christian faith, the debate still rages amongst those who feel strongly about the Biblical narrative of Jesus’s birth and the need for Santa’s presence in Christmas. Even so, one thing remains true: Santa Clause is still here to stay and will continue to play a large role in the celebrations of Christmas.
