I took it pretty hard when I learned that Santa Claus didn’t actually make the global trip down everyone’s chimneys to deliver presents. When we started having kids of our own, there was never any doubt in my mind that we weren’t going to perpetuate the myth.

There are a lot of reasons to quash the Santa Claus thing. It twists the meaning of Christmas and diverts kids’ attention from the mystery and awe of the nativity, which is so beautiful in and of itself. Kids tend to focus on what gifts they get on Christmas instead of the gift that humanity gets in the person of Jesus Christ. And really, it’s just creepy. Kids forced to take pictures with a stranger who smells like beef and cheese in order to get ideas for presents is nearly as creepy as pictures with the “Easter Bunny”.

And you get all these random people coming up to your kids saying, “Do you know who’s coming in a few weeks?” Yes, His name is Jesus Christ, thank you very much.

Of course, the worst part is lying to your kids. If I expect them to love truth, how can I lie to them for such a silly thing?

Thankfully, we’ve come to a nice compromise that allows us to infuse the mystery and excitement of Santa Claus without all the cheese and deceit: The Spirit of St. Nick.

The Spirit of St. Nick

The myth of Santa Claus is based loosely on St. Nicholas, who was born in the Greek seaport of Patara, Lycia in Asia Minor to wealthy Christian parents. In one of the earliest attested and most famous incidents from his life, he is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them.

Other early stories tell of him calming a storm at sea, saving three innocent soldiers from wrongful execution, and chopping down a tree possessed by a demon. In his youth, he is said to have made a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine. Shortly after his return, he became Bishop of Myra. He was later cast into prison during the persecution of Diocletian, but was released after the accession of Constantine. An early list makes him an attendee at the First Council of Nicaea in 325.

Nicholas is a pretty awesome saint and is worthy of some attention during Advent. We tell our kids that the spirit of St. Nick gives gifts to people for his feast day. This is not lying because it really is the charitable spirit of St. Nicholas that gives gifts on that day. No need for tales about reindeer or fat men sliding down chimneys with the spirit. You can tell your kids that Santa is the way people like to honor the spirit of St. Nick, but it’s really the spirit that gives them gifts.

You can do this on his feast day of December 6, or even on Christmas morning if you want to maintain that component of the feast. And if that’s not enough gift-giving, there’s always the Epiphany where the spirit of the Three Wise Men bring gifts as well.