Thursday, December 13, 2012

Imagine my surprise when I heard an elder at our church say Santa Claus was rooted in Christianity. I wrote others with my concerns and was even more surprised when they heartily agreed - with the elder.

It seemed obvious, at least to me, that far too many had become immersed in tradition - accepting the Catholic Christ-mas and Jolly Ole St. Nick as “Christian” instead of seeing it for what it is - a tradition steeped in Catholicism, a counterfeit of the blessed hope of the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ and notice, with a grieved spirit, the elevation of ‘saints’ and myths to a place reserved only for God.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap…

Indeed, many websites share the "christian" legends of St. Nicholas, born during the third century, “Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. By his example of generosity to those in need, especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be an example for the compassionate life” [St. Nicholas Center, http://www.stnicholascenter.org]


 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ, Who loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God…

Others paint a much different picture of Jolly Old Saint Nick.

Nearly all Santa researchers agree that some traits of the man in the red suit were borrowed from Norse [Scandinavian] mythology:


Mythologist Helene Adeline Guerber presents a very convincing case tracing Santa to the Norse god Thor. [Encyclopedia Britannica describes the role of  Nordic mythology in the life of Santa.

Sinterklaas was adopted by the country's English-speaking majority under the name Santa Claus, and his legend of a kindly old man was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. ("Santa Claus" Encyclopedia Britannica 99)

There is a little-known piece in the life of Santa that time and tradition has silently erased. Few people are aware that for most of his life, St. Nicholas [SinterKlass Christ-kind,] had an unusual helper or companion. This mysterious sidekick had many names or aliases. He was known as Knecht Rupprecht; Pelznickle; Ru-Klas; Swarthy; Dark One; Dark Helper; Black Peter; Hans Trapp; ; Krampus, Grampus, Zwarte Piets; Furry Nicholas; Rough Nicholas; Schimmelreiter; Klapperbock; Julebuk...

And what about these little 'helpers' of Santa’ -

Before you completely discount elves to the world of fantasy, witches, the occult and kooks, consider the research of Dr. Kurt Koch. Dr. Koch is without question the world's foremost authority on demonism and the occult. Dr. Koch, a devout Christian, has spent a life-time traveling world-wide, researching and documenting the real-world of demonism, devils and the occult. Dr. Koch has three complete pages documenting "Goblins and Elves" in his book Occult ABC. Dr. Koch writes of elves: 

"These elves often appear to children and even play with them. The moment an adult comes on the scene, the elves disappear. . . If a person wants their help, he must apply to their chief, the devil himself [Santa?]. This however, would cost a person his salvation. The idea these spirits are demonic in origin is in accordance with the Bible." [Kurt Koch, Occult ABC, p. 82, 83]He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake.
Santa appears to be omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent - Santa never fails.

What are we teaching our children?

Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there… Psalm 139:7-8


The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

He's making a list, He's checking it twice, He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice...

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Malachi 3:16

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5:1

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12-15

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High…” Isaiah 14

Our children, our grandchildren, know more about Santa than they do the LORD.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world...Matthew 28

What are we teaching our children?

6 comments:

  1. Wow!! Simply mind boggling, and to think Christians partake of this foolishness. Excellent and informative post Ali, thank you.

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  2. Santa - Satan ????

    The rearranging of letters (called anagrams) to hide secret names or words has long been practiced in the occult.

    Jolly Old St. Nick [Old Nick] is a well-known British name of the Devil. It seems probable that this name is derived from the Dutch Nikken, the devil..."

    May the eyes of many be opened to this lie.

    "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:28

    The Baby Jesus and Santa do NOT go together. Santa is NOT rooted in Christianity - never was, never will be .!!.

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  3. I'm really surprised at some of the claims here.

    Santa Claus did indeed originate from Saint Nicholas, a bishop who - as you noted - supposedly did many good deeds. Of course this tradition of emulating him got more and more twisted and added to as time went by until it finally became a symbol of materialism and greed. But that doesn't change the fact of the origin of Santa Claus was indeed rooted in Christianity.

    "Santa" comes from "Saint" (sort of like the many "Santa" something cities in the USA in the area which used to be Mexico with its Latin-based language) - it has nothing to do with Satan. St. Nick has nothing to do with the devil, rather it is just short for St. Nicholas. Similarities do not make them the same.

    I heartily agree with the facts that led from St. Nicholas to the current Santa Clause, but that doesn't mean we have to be deceitful and claim there was no origin in the Christian faith by the way of St. Nicholas - who was a real person.

    Should we be teaching children about Santa as a story? Well, I see no problem with teaching Santa than teaching any other fairy tale. But teaching him as being real with all the materialism that goes with it, and the way he is horrifically portrayed praying at the Nativity, is unconscionable.

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  4. If one Goggles Satan Claus they will find over a thousand websites from which to choose. Obviously, others have made a similar connection.

    As for St. Nicholas, countless legends have grown up around this very popular saint, but very little historical evidence is available to support such claims. In 1969, despite the fact, St. Nicholas is among Roman Catholicism’s most popular and venerated "Saints," Pope Paul VI officially decreed the feast of Saint Nicholas removed from the Roman Catholic calendar. UPI Wire Services reported that St. Nicholas and forty other saints were deleted because "of doubt that they ever existed." ("Pope Marches 40 Saints Off Official Church Calendar." UPI Wire Services. )

    Fairy tales are in books, Santa is at the mall.

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  5. Well, we taught our children the story of Santa Claus, and how the story originated because of a real person, but how people turned it into a fairy tale. We told them how most parents never tell their children that Santa is real. But we also played about Santa as we played about the tooth fairy and Cinderella. Just stories to have fun with. We'd even put packages under the tree with "From Santa" as a joke and we all would laugh and have fun with being silly. And we watched the Snoopy Christmas Special (which actually panned the materialism of the season and ended with the Luke narative), Miracle on 34th Street, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc, and used those to teach truth, discernment, etc. I see nothing wrong with teaching this way.

    In my previous studies about St. Nicholas, I never read where there was ever a doubt as to his actual existence in the 4th century, but there are many doubts as to what his good deeds may have been. The stories which developed beginning in the 5th century have him performing miracles and other silliness - standard Romanist fare. We recently visited the National Czech and Slovak Museum and they had a massive display of St. Nicholas, and I was amused with the many additional things he was credited with which I had never previously seen.

    There is some very interesting history surrounding Nicholas, including the claim that he challenged Arius at Nicea, but it is difficult to determine how much is true and how much was developed later.

    What IS wrong with the whole Santa schtick is the lies parents tell their children, and the materialism and greed surrounding the whole thing, the scaring of children etc, not to mention the fact that they give Santa Claus the attributes of God!

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  6. "they give Santa Claus the attributes of God' - that was my reason for writing this post - as I mentioned in the piece.

    It is strange that many view the RCC as apostate, heretical, unbiblical,unchristian in their teachings, theology and practices, YET we have based one of the most visible semblances of Christmas, Santa Claus, on an RCC priest.

    Our children should be taught the LORD is watching over them - not Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a LIE and teaches our children NOTHING.!!!.

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