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John Pintard's pamphlet (1810)
Long answer: Believe it or not, I really have run into this question more than once—usually in the end of November or sometime in December.
Santa Claus exists in American holiday folklore and is woven very tightly into the festivities of the month of December. He really is everywhere in the USA during that time of year. If a kid is growing up in the USA, the subject of Santa will arrive at some point during childhood.
This quote below addresses the controversy about “adults lying to children about Santa Claus.” Some adults are concerned that children might be upset or disappointed--if they feel that they have been deceived by the adults about an imaginary figure. One Christmas-loving Baptist told me that she wept when an older sibling told her “the truth." The quote below describes a good way for most any parent to address the USA folklore regarding Santa--in particular, to emphasize the concept of charity or "unselfish giving."
In our family, we have a special way of transitioning the kids from receiving from Santa, to becoming a Santa. This way, the Santa construct is not a lie that gets discovered, but an unfolding series of good deeds and Christmas spirit.When they are 6 or 7, whenever you see that dawning suspicion that Santa may not be a material being, that means the child is ready.
I take them out "for coffee" at the local wherever. We get a booth, order our drinks, and the following pronouncement is made: “You sure have grown an awful lot this year. Not only are you taller, but I can see that your heart has grown, too. [Point out 2-3 examples of empathetic behavior, consideration of people's feelings, good deeds etc, the kid has done in the past year]. In fact, your heart has grown so much that I think you are ready to become a Santa Claus.
You probably have noticed that most of the Santas you see are people dressed up like him. Some of your friends might have even told you that there is no Santa. A lot of children think that, because they aren't ready to BE a Santa yet, but YOU ARE.
Tell me the best things about Santa. What does Santa get for all of his trouble? [lead the kid from "cookies" to the good feeling of having done something for someone else]. Well, now YOU are ready to do your first job as a Santa!"
Make sure you maintain the proper conspiratorial tone.
We then have the child choose someone they know--a neighbor, usually. The child's mission is to secretly, deviously, find out something that the person needs, and then provide it, wrap it, deliver it--and never reveal to the target where it came from. Being a Santa isn't about getting credit, you see. It's unselfish giving.
My oldest chose the "witch lady" on the corner. She really was horrible--had a fence around the house and would never let the kids go in and get a stray ball or Frisbee. She'd yell at them to play quieter, etc--a real pill. He noticed when we drove to school that she came out every morning to get her paper in bare feet, so he decided she needed slippers. So then he had to go spy and decide how big her feet were. He hid in the bushes one Saturday, and decided she was a medium. We went to Kmart and bought warm slippers. He wrapped them up, and tagged it "merry Christmas from Santa." After dinner one evening, he slipped down to her house, and slid the package under her driveway gate. The next morning, we watched her waddle out to get the paper, pick up the present, and go inside. My son was all excited, and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. The next morning, as we drove off, there she was, out getting her paper--wearing the slippers. He was ecstatic. I had to remind him that NO ONE could ever know what he did, or he wouldn't be a Santa.
Over the years, he chose a good number of targets, always coming up with a unique present just for them. One year, he polished up his bike, put a new seat on it, and gave it to one of our friend's daughters. These people were and are very poor. We did ask the dad if it was ok. The look on her face, when she saw the bike on the patio with a big bow on it, was almost as good as the look on my son's face.
When it came time for Son #2 to join the ranks, my oldest came along, and helped with the induction speech. They are both excellent gifters, by the way, and never felt that they had been lied to--because they were let in on the Secret of Being a Santa."
--allegedly written by L. Rush, date unknown.
To give my own mother credit, she took a direction back in the 1960's that was something like L. Rush’s approach….but nothing so specific. It was a lot of different bits of information from over the years of holiday celebrations.
My mother read me our old copy of 'Twas the Night before Christmas almost annually--but what she said on the subject whenever questioned on the Santa issue was: "Santa Claus is the Spirit of Christmas."
She also explained that when we saw different "Santas" in different department stores that these Santas were just "helping the Spirit of Christmas," because it was "a big job." With this explanation, I actually never felt deceived about the existence of Santa Claus.
Thus, it is my suggestion that parents could express to their children that this winter holiday Gift Giver is a “spirit.” In other words, a “Spirit of Generosity,” a “Spirit of Generosity and Kindness,” a spirit that encourages people to have an “attitude of gratitude” and an “attitude of charity” during this hectic season. Perhaps, "The Spirit of Yule."
My own family all gave gifts to each other. I helped shop for presents from a very early age. Only little gifts in the stockings were from Santa. All gifts under the tree were from each other--or from friends.
My mother also exposed me in our 1959 World Encyclopedia to info about "Santa Clauses" in other cultures as well as sharing historical articles/stories about: Sinterklaas, Saint Nicholas, Old Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Christkindl, Szent Miklos, Father Christmas, Pere Noel, Julesvenn, Weihnachtenman, Ded Moroz ("Grandfather Frost"), La Befana, and the Three Kings. (You have to remember, I grew up in the 1960’s and the elemetary school teachers annually had lesson plans focused on “Christmas around the World.” I would use these articles/stories to write reports about Christmas.)
In this way, I never thought of Santa Claus as being literally one person who lived at the North Pole, in spite of the Rankin/Bass Television Special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964). I thought of Santa as a spirit who manifested as many “gift-givers.”
For any Pagan parents who want advise, here’s my $0.02. Parents, you must do as you think best. If you want to do the "Santa Claus bit" during Yuletide, GO AHEAD.
Read them, A Visit from St. Nick by Clement C. Moore. (In fact, I challenge a Neo-Pagan artist out there to draw some lightly Paganized artwork for a book using the text of this public domain poem. Artists are welcome to contact me if you are interested in such a project.)
I suggest to Pagan parents that it might be useful to also read to their kid(s), "Is There a Santa Claus?" This editorial first appeared in the September 21, 1897 edition of The New York Sun, and contained the iconic sentence, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." In this editorial, Santa Claus is a mystical, immortal spirit: “…there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, or even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond…. A thousand years from now, maybe 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the hearts of children.”
Parents should also let their kid(s) know that not everyone believes in Santa and that's OK. This idea can be used to introduce the concept of tolerance of other belief systems and philosophies.
For Pagan parents, I would likewise suggest calling “Santa Claus” by the following epithets: “Old Father Yule,” “the Belsnickle,” "the Jolly Old Elf,” “Good Nick,” “the Jolly Holly King,” and maybe "Santee Claus" aka "Sinterklaas," "Santee Claus" aka "Sinterklaas."
Where do these names come from?
Old Father Yule: The name “Old Father Yule” was used in the Maryland Pagan Community (FSA and CPC) Yule Mummer plays. Old Father Yule was based directly on the English Father Christmas, who appeared in historical English mummer plays, but he could tie into the French Pere Noel (Father Noel). These fellows are really tied into the legends of Jolly Old Saint Nick, aka Santee Claus/Sinterklaas.
Belsnickle: The Gift-Giver Santa Claus in USA folklore REALLY harks back to the Belsnickle (Bellsnickle, Belznickle, Pelznikel, Pelznickel). "Nickel" is a hypocorism of the given name "Nikolaus" and "belz" or "bels" which means "fur" or "hide" "Belz," is akin to the English word, "pelts." The Belsnickle is the fur-clad wintertime gift-bringer. His garb could vary from one locality to another as each individual Belsnickle was responsible for providing his own costume, but it often included fur of some sort. He might have something like a fur cap or bear skin hat, decorated with bells--or perhaps a motley patchwork coat made of different bits of leftover fur and leather. In the USA, adults dressed as Belsnickels traveled about and visited farm houses on Christmas. Sarah Thayer of the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum also confirmed the name Belsnickel/Pelznickel literally means “Nicholas in furs” (pelts-nicholas). His "Fur Nick" name alluded to the disguise involving skins and furs. His face was often covered in soot as part of the disguise, leading to another folk name, "Aschenklas" (Nicholas in Ashes). Yes, the furry Belsnickel was a forerunner of our modern day USA Santy, “dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.“ (Clement C. Moore, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas or A Visit From St. Nick, 1823.)
Jolly Old Elf: In the poem, A Visit from St. Nick by Clement C. Moore, Old Santy is described, “He was chubby and plump, a right Jolly Old Elf…”
Good Nick or Good Old Nick: This name is a nod to the name, Saint Nicholas, and the American folk legends about him being a saintly, good-hearted old fellow.
The Jolly Holly King: As for “the Jolly Holly King,” it just sounds good because it rhymes.
Santee Claus or Sinterklaas: Yes, Virginia, the name of Santa Claus obviously derived from Sinterklaas of Dutch folklore. The modern Santa Claus is also connected to the dialectal Dutch Sante Klaas, which originated from Middle Dutch Sinter Niklaas, "Saint Nicholas." Other names for Sinterklaas include De Goedesint (the Good Saint) and Goedheiligman (Good Holy Man).
The first recorded instance of the use of the name “Santa Claus” is in James Rivington 's New-York Gazetteer on Thursday, December 23, 1773:
Last Monday the anniversary of St. Nicholas, otherwise called Santa Claus, was celebrated at Protestant Hall, at Mr. Waldron's; where a great number of sons of that ancient saint celebrated the day with great joy and festivity.
However, John Pintard of the New York Historical Society (established 1809) seems to have been responsible for popularizing the Dutch name Santee Claus/Sinterklaas in USA folklore. Pintard included the Dutch saint in his private almanac as early as 1793. In 1810, Pintard put out a pamphlet in New York with the following verse describing the gift-giving Santee Claus/Sinterklaas traveling to Spain to pick up oranges and pomegranates. These fruits were intended to be gifts for children. Both oranges and pomegranates were delicious winter holiday treats in the 19th century.
Non-rhyming translation into Modern English:Here are the two versions in English and Dutch, as recorded in the 1810 pamphlet.
Santee Claus, Good Holy Man!
Pull your best tabberd on,
Travel there to Amsterdam,
From Amsterdam to Spain,
There [in Spain] are fruits of orange,
There [in Spain] are pomegranates,
They roll through the streets.
Santee Claus, my good friend!
I have been all patiently [waiting],
If you will give me something now,
I will serve you all my Life.
English:Pintard hoped to establish a Sinterklaas tradition in New York. In his 1810 pamphlet, Pintard proposed Saint Nick as being the Patron Saint of New York City, as well as the patron of his historical society. (See illustration at the end of this article.)
SAINT NICHOLAS, good holy man!
Put on the Tabard, best you can,
Go, therewith, to Amsterdam,
From Amsterdam to Spain,
Where apples bright of Orange,
And likewise those granate surnam'd,
Roll through the streets, all free unclaim'd.
SAINT NICHOLAS, my dear good friend!
To serve you ever was my end,
If you will, now, give me something give,
I’ll serve you ever while I live.Dutch:
SANTEE CLAUS, goedheiligman!
Trek uwe beste tabberd an,
Reis daar mee naar Amsterdam,
Van Amsterdam naar Spanje,
Daar Appelen van Oranje,
Daar Appelen van granaten,
Die rollen door de straten.
SANTEE CLAUS, myn geode Friend!
Ik heb ll allen tyd gedient,
Wille ll my nu wat geven,
Ik zal ll dienen alle myn Leven.
Other Holiday Legends and Mythology: A parent can likewise choose to draw from other folklore. There is Jultomte (Tomte of Yule/Jul) who brings gifts in Sweden. There is the Julnisse (Nisse of Yule/Jul), who brings gifts in parts of Norway. There are the Icelandic Jolasveinarnir or Jolasveinar (Yule Lads or Yulemen), who put rewards or punishments into shoes placed by children on window sills during the last thirteen nights before Christmas Eve.
There is also the Yule Goat known as Julbock (Scandinavian), Joulupukki (Finnish), or Julbukk (Norway), which is said to have pre-Christian roots.
I suppose some Pagan parents might want to teach their kid(s) about Saturn of the Roman Saturnalia. A white bearded God, Saturn or Saturnus, ruled over the feast days of Saturnalia from December 17 to 23.
Some Pagan parents might choose to teach about Odin/Woden, the Germanic/Norse/Scandinavian/Saxon God, who leads the wild hunt in the winter night sky. As said before, Germanic/Norse/Scandinavian/Saxons probably celebrated a midwinter feast, possibly also called Jul or Jol. Interestingly, one of Odin's many names is "Jolnir." In some folklore about his wild ride, Odin/Woden was accompanied during the winter nights by a troop called the "Jolareid."
Other stuff a Pagan parent could do: I am a great believer in reading books to children. (True, there is nothing wrong with holiday specials on TV, but nothing beats reading a story aloud.)
Reading to kids promotes literacy. It also creates a special time between a child and an adult. Thus, a Pagan parent might want to read Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957). In this book, the Grinch dressed up and pretended to be Santy Claus. Yet, when the Grinch's heart grew, he understood the meaning of "giving in kindness" and "sharing and joy."
FAQ: Isn’t Santa Claus Christian?
OR
FAQ: Isn’t Santa Claus pagan?
Short answer: Depends on who you talk to…
Long answer: The Jehovah Witnesses and some other Fundamentalist Christians maintain that Santa Claus is purely pagan, and insist that he has nothing to do with the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ--and in fact, detracts from that celebration. Indeed, I remember an article in the last half of the 1970's in which a Fundamentalist couple made a stuffed effigy of old Santa Claus and hung him up by the neck on a noose in their front yard. The article quoted them as saying, "Santa Claus is a lie. Why are we mixing up the birth of Jesus with lies?"
However, Santa Claus is based on a real person: Saint Nicholas of Myra. Saint Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey), and is a historic Christian saint. He was born during the third century. At the time the area was Greek, but is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His feast day is December 6 (December 19 on the Julian Calendar). Saint Nicholas of Myra was a generous soul who desired to help the poor. He received a large inheritance after the death of his parents. There is a 13th century legend that he gave gold coins annonymously to two girls so that they would have enough money for marriage dowries. Originally, this legend focused on his charity to the poor--but it later tied into Saint Nick generously giving gifts around his feast day.
Most importantly, the name “Santa Claus” actually derived from "Saint Nicholas." In the USA, Christians of several denominations view Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas as an important symbol of Christian charity.
It is true that through the centuries many stories have been told about Santa Claus and his alter ego, Saint Nick. Some are legends--and some are simply ficticious.
It's how an individual interprets the legends and stories as to whether one "decides" that Santa Claus is "too pagan to be Christian" or "too Christian to be Pagan."
FAQ: But if Santa Claus is based on Saint Nicholas, how could a Christian saint fit into Wiccan theology?
Answer:Let me begin with the following statement. If any Pagan parents do not want to do the "Santa Claus bit," then those parents should NOT do the "Santa Claus bit."
As parents, they make the choice whether to tell their kid(s), "Some people enjoy pretending to believe in this holiday folklore regarding Santa Claus. Our family does not. That's OK. We live in the USA, where people have different beliefs, practices, and customs--AND THAT IS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE WE HAVE FREEDOM OF THOUGHT."
Like I said, this decision is up to the parents.
I hope the above has clarified that issue.
Now, this question is about how--if at all--Santa fits into Wiccan theology.
Originally at this point, I launched into a long discussion about Wiccan theology and how Wiccan theology is not Christian theology...etc.
I quoted the beginning of The Charge of the Goddess:
Listen to the words of the Great Mother: She who was of old was called among men, Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other names.I waxed eloquently about the Holly King (God of the Waning Year) and the Oak King (God of the Waxing Year) in Janet and Stewart Farrar's Eight Sabats for Witches (1981). I speculated about an archtypal connection between Santa Claus/Old Father Yule and the Holly King, which is a figure originating in English and European folklore.
I briefly mentioned A Solstice Wish Spell by Tess Whitehurst on a 2016 Llewellyn calendar, which involved lighting a red candle and saying, "Thank you, Santa Claus, for granting this Solstice wish!"
At that point, my husband, Thoron, who is also my editor and webmaster, asked me if I really wanted to beat the subject to death that way.
The man had a point! This FAQ deals with modern American holiday folklore--and folklore should always be fun!
Since folklore is spread through and influenced by stories, songs, and folk customs, modern folklore keeps evolving. I will simply leave you with two recent songs.
Jolly Old Father YuleJolly Old Father Yule is my 2016 filk. It is a filk of the song Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, which was published anonymously during the 19th century in New York. The original song had often been assumed to have been written by Benjamin Hanby. According to research by music historian Mark C. Samples, it may well have been written by Emily Huntington Miller, as a version of it was printed as a poem in The Little Corporal Magazine, December, 1865, under the title "Lilly's Secret"--and attributed to Miller. It is traditionally performed to a melody which has been attributed to James Lord Pierpon in the 19th century. Others claim the composer of the melody remains unknown. The earliest known example of sheet music for "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" is from J. P. McCaskey, ed., Franklin Square Song Collection, No. 1, New York, Harper & Brothers, 1881, p. 80. However, the citation above that sheet music credits "School Chimes. Per. S. Brainard's Sons." In other words, the melody was credited to James Ramsey Murray, School Chimes: A New School Music Book. (Cleveland, Ohio: S. Brainard's Sons, 1874).Jolly Old Father Yule,
Incline your ear this way;
Listen very carefully,
I have a lot to say;
Yuletide season will be here---
Very, very quick!
Help me if you can, old man,
You might do the trick!In the bleak of winter time,
You come once a year;
Around the dark, longest night,
You bring a lot of cheer:
Peaceful home, and goodwill
All among my kin.
Remember us, Old Father Yule;
We need your Yuletide grin!You bring holly; you bring fun;
You bring Yuletide joys!
I know some other kids
Might want some Yuletide toys.
Some might like some books to read;
Some need more than me--
Some might need a warm coat;
Some might want a tree.Bring us holly; bring us joy;
Bring us Yuletide Bright!
We will give in charity,
While calling back the Light.
As for me, Old Father Yule
On your list you’ll see,
“Peaceful home” and “goodwill,”
That’s all I need for me!Jolly Old Father Yule,
Incline your ear this way;
Listen very carefully,
I have a lot to say;
Yuletide season will be here---
Very, very quick!
Help me if you can, old man,
You might do the trick!--Lyrics by Myth Woodling
These were the original words of the poem, published in 1881:
Lilly's SecretBoth the melody and song lyrics are in public domain.
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way;
Don't you tell a single soul
What I'm going to say,
Christmas Eve is coming soon;
Now my dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
Tell me if you can.
When the clock is striking twelve,
When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black
With your pack you'll creep;
All the stockings you will find
Hanging in a row;
Mine will be the shortest one;
You'll be sure to know.
Johnny wants a pair of skates;
Susy wants a dolly
Nellie wants a story book,
She thinks dolls are folly
As for me, my little brain
Isn't very bright;
Choose for me, dear Santa Claus,
What you think is right.
Santa Claus Is Pagan, Too
by Larry Morris of Emerald Rose from Rants and Rambles CD (2004).
Larry Morris wrote back to me and explained he composed this song after spending a day at a mall, surrounded by non-stop Christmas music.
|
Oh, Santa Claus is Pagan, too. Just like all the rest, And if you are a merry witch, He’ll bring you all the best.
So get that star up on the roof,
He’s got that Buddha belly,
You took the horns right off his head,
Hey, Santa Claus is Pagan too,
So get that star up on the roof,
Now history says Christ was likely
Come celebrate the dawning |
Hey, Santa Claus is Pagan too, Just like all the rest, And if you are a merry witch, He’ll bring you all the best.
So get that star up on the roof,
Now, Santa’s way more jolly
Yeah, you can call it Christmas;
Hey, Santa Claus is Pagan too,
So get that star up on the roof,
Hey, Santa Claus is Pagan too,
So get that star up on the roof, |
Listen to the song. Watch this video. Enjoy the FUN! Youtube: Santa Claus Is Pagan, Too
Copyright December 6, 2017 (Saint Nicholas Day) Myth Woodling
Sources:
santa claus - Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001-2017 Douglas Harper,
accessed 12/6/17.
Evolution of Santa Claus, 2017, A&E Television Networks, LLC, accessed 12/6/17.
Saint Nicholas Comes to the New World accessed 12/6/17.
The Christmas Conspiracy (or How New Yorkers Created Santa Claus), accessed 12/6/17.
What is a Belsnickle? , accessed 12/6/17.
Mary K. Mannix, Maryland Room Memories: Here we go, Belsnickling - Gazette.Net, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, 2017, Post Community Media, LLC/Gazette.Net
Santa Claus Is A Black Man. At some point in my youth, when I realized that Santa Claus was a spirit, I realized that he could be portrayed any shade of skin color. For many years in Baltimore, Maryland, Mondawmin Mall has had a black Santa Claus.
John Pintard's pamphlet (1810)
I have not yet found a pictorial image of the Belznickle as he appeared in Maryland. Fortunately, writing around 1830, Jacob Brown provided, a first-hand 19th-century account of the "Beltznickle" tradition in Allegany County, Maryland:
He was known as Kriskinkle, Beltznickle and sometimes as the Christmas woman. ... The annual visitor would make his appearance some hours after dark, thoroughly disguised, especially the face, which would sometimes be covered with a hideously ugly phiz - generally wore a female garb - hence the name Christmas woman - sometimes it would be a veritable woman but with masculine force and action. He or she would be equipped with an ample sack about the shoulders filled with cakes, nuts, and fruits, and a long hazel switch which was supposed to have some kind of a charm in it as well as a sting. --Jacob Brown, Brown's Miscellaneous Writings, Printed by J.J. Miller (Cumberland, Maryland 1896), p. 41.
FAQ: The Annual Holiday Debate--Is it Christian Christmas or Neo-Pagan Yule?
The Yuletide Mummer's Play (adapted from Richard and Roni Schotter's There's A Dragon About, A Winter's Revel) This adapted script has more characters—in particular I added in Old Father Yule, who is a mixture of the modern USA Santa Claus and the kindly old Saturn. While some of the old English mummer’s plays had a Father Christmas, this character is omitted completely from Richard and Roni Schotter’s book.
Let me quickly plug this children’s book There's A Dragon About: A Winter's Revel written by Richard and Roni Schotter and illustrated by R.W. Alley. With wonderful illustrations and rhymes loosely adapted from old English mummer’s plays, this book shows a group of children who act out their version of the old folk play Saint George [called “Knight George” in the book] and the Dragon and go “reveling” house-to-house. This picture book is a window into the pre-TV era when entertainment was homemade. Parents read this book as a story. Intended for Grades K-3. This storybook however does something in the standard plot I’ve seen nowhere else, they bring the Dragon back to life and the people reconciling with the Dragon.
Winter Mummings and Mummer Plays
Julebrod (Jul Porridge) Some info about Jultomte or Julnisse—including that one must leave them a bowl of Julebrod, instead of cookies.
The Winter Trolls. I did NOT adapt this story from Jan Bret’s Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? 2002. (Jan Bret’s book is an excellent retelling of the folktale. The reading level is ages 6-up, and the illustrations are beautiful.) It is an old folktale told in Norway--and other Scandinavian countries. I’ve found the folktale retold under names like “The Ice Bear” or “The Snow Bear and the Trolls.” I originally found it buried in the pages of a scholarly book on folklore in my college days (circa 1979- 81). By the way, Jan Bret’s book is an excellent retelling of this folktale. The reading level is ages 6-up, and the illustrations are beautiful.
Folktales and Stories
Practical Celebration Recipes and Preps
Saint Nick Cookie
"Yet Another Wicca..." home page