Chapter I: Advent - Reflections on St. Nicholas

Yesterday was the Feast of St. Nicholas. Like many Americans, I know St. Nicholas better in his incarnation as Santa Clause. Unlike most Americans, I never believed that Santa Clause was real. In our family, we considered Santa Clause a game – something for my grandparents to be silly with and have some fun. My mom, in particular, disliked the jolly old elf, and by the time I was 10, he was fairly well banished from our festivities and Christmas décor except for the few gifts which my grandparents signed “from Santa Clause!”

This didn’t scar me. I’m actually quite glad my parents never messed with the foolishness of trying to make us believe Santa Clause was real. Not only would it have taken away from the real meaning of Christmas, it also would have taken away from the fun of the game with my grandparents.

Until yesterday, I had no real knowledge of what St. Nicholas’ Day was. Oh, we listened to the Adventures in Odyssey episode featuring St. Nick every year, and I think my German roommate after college gave me a little gift on 6 December. In fact, I thought the real Saint Nicholas was from Germany and had lived in the Middle Ages!