Michael T. Bacon, Ph.D. on Nostr: npub1ze8l0…npnjy npub16a3wq…k9dah npub180d8r…9yqvk npub1k4qml…73lsq Saint ...
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Saint Nicholas was an explicitly ecclesial figure, and while "Santa Claus" may have a pagan antecedent it's pretty murky and the Nicholas ties are much stronger. Gift-giving was originally a scripturally-referenced Epiphany tradition that got moved to Christmas in the Western Church. Of course many of the traditional carols are extremely secular but many others are not.
Saint Nicholas was an explicitly ecclesial figure, and while "Santa Claus" may have a pagan antecedent it's pretty murky and the Nicholas ties are much stronger. Gift-giving was originally a scripturally-referenced Epiphany tradition that got moved to Christmas in the Western Church. Of course many of the traditional carols are extremely secular but many others are not.