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Santa Claus is primarily based on legends surrounding the life of Bishop Nicolas of Myra. The legends, while the details are indeed legend, demonstrate that his faith, generosity, and good will were such that he was a wonderful model of Christian faith. Many miracles apparently surrounded this man. Eventually he was named among the Saints of the Russian, Eastern, and Catholic Churches.
What should be of interest here is that he is named among early attendance lists as having attended the Council of Nicea. Apparently he and Arius got into a physical fight because Arius denied the full diety of Christ. So we know that Bishop Nicolas believed in Christ's deity. However, there is an interesting twist to this. Apparently later lists of attendees do not list Nicolas as having attended...these later lists are believed to be based on those who affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity. So Bishop Nicolas believed that Jesus was fully God enough to physically confront Arius...but he may have refused to affirm that he believed in the Trinity. That leaves an interesting option.
Bishop Nicolas, Saint Nicolast, aka Santa Claus may have been a Oneness Christian.
It's an interesting thought.
The Feast of Saint Nicolas was observed on December 6th. Slowly religious observers began observing it along side of Christ's Mass (Christmas) on December 25th. This prevented them from having to travel great distances to observe the feast twice in one month, especially during bitter winters. So St. Nicolas became a ficture in Christian observances of Christmas.
I have no issue with Santa Claus. I've had my son's picture taken on Santa's lap and I will surely educate him as he is older as to who Bishop Nicolas truly was...a man who's model of Christian faith was so great generations of Christians have continued to give in his name.
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"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (English Standard Version)
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