(ANALYSIS) Santa Claus really does have an easy life, doesn’t he? He lounges up at the North Pole with a seemingly endless supply of cookies, a team of reindeer to haul him around and elves to do the heavy lifting. In reality, he only works one night a year. But boy, on that night, he really puts in a shift. Flying across the world, sliding down chimneys, eating snacks left out by hopeful children, and delivering gifts at breakneck speed — it’s a miracle this elderly man makes it back in one piece.

But for a moment, let us set aside the beloved holiday figure we know today and instead turn our thoughts to where his story truly began.

Originally inspired by Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Christian bishop, Santa’s story begins not with sleigh bells but with a mission of compassion. Nicholas devoted his wealth to helping those in need, quietly funding dowries for impoverished girls and rescuing families from hardship. His acts of secret giving were deeply rooted in Christian teachings, valuing humility and charity over recognition.

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As centuries passed, however, the image of this saintly figure blurred with folklore and grew into a jolly, secular icon — a transformation that reveals as much about society as it does about Christmas.

Over the years, Saint Nicholas morphed from a humble, generous bishop into something of a cultural mash-up — a little bit Christian, a bit pagan, and a whole lot of pop culture. Santa Claus as we know him today is a creature of reinvention, decked out in secular trappings that overshadow any hint of his spiritual roots.

In America, Santa is everywhere — gracing billboards, storefronts, and holiday ads. He’s the smiling face of consumerism, a character crafted by storytellers like Washington Irving and Clement Moore, then set in stone by Thomas Nast’s illustrations. Each layer pulled him further from his Christian beginnings and deeper into the superficiality of modern-day Christmas.

Today, not even Santa can escape the iron grip of commercialization. Once a symbol of humble giving, he’s become a marketing powerhouse, embodying a holiday season that’s more about shopping sprees than spiritual reflection. For many Christians, this presents a dilemma: how did a holiday marking the birth of the Savior become so dominated by Santa and his sleigh of materialism?

Santa’s transformation is a snapshot of Christmas’s own drift from the sacred to the secular, shifting the focus from the Nativity to the Narrative (“buy, buy, buy”). 

Despite Santa’s makeover into a commercial icon, some writers have suggested that his original story echoes that of another man known for giving, one who multiplied fish and loaves and changed lives with a spirit of love.

Yes, Jesus.

Saint Nicholas, the man behind the myth, points us toward Christ with a life defined by quiet compassion and generosity. Known for his secret acts of kindness, Nicholas used his wealth to lift up those in need. His most famous deed — providing dowries to save young women from despair — embodies the kind of selflessness that reflects Christ’s love in action. Nicholas didn’t just speak of faith; he lived it, humbly serving others without seeking applause.

Many of the traditions we cherish today — secret gift-giving and quiet acts of kindness — find their roots in Nicholas’s humble generosity, echoing Jesus’ call to give without fanfare. Nicholas’s kindness came from within, not for applause or “likes,” but because it was simply the right thing to do.

Through these customs, many believe his legacy endures, reminding us that love and charity are the heart of faith, no matter one’s beliefs. His actions are, in many ways, an invitation to look past the holiday distractions and embrace Christmas as a time to reflect on what it truly means to be human.

We are social creatures, thriving through the give-and-take of support and kindness. A well-lived life — one filled with genuine love — is built on this neverending cycle of giving and receiving, a powerful reciprocity that sustains us all. Without it, survival would be nearly impossible, and thriving even more so.

As you prepare your home for a welcome intruder — a mysterious fellow who somehow slips down chimneys, nabs a few tasty treats and leaves a trail of gifts (as well as crumbs)—pause for a second. Look past the glittering lights and glossy wrapping paper, beyond the TV ads and holiday hype.

Strip away the flash, and what remains is a story of compassion and selfless kindness — a tale that transcends time and tradition, reminding us all of the simple, profound power of generosity. It’s about more than just exchanging gifts; it’s about giving our time, our presence, and our compassion to the people in our lives who make life truly beautiful.

John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist. He covers psychology and social relations. His writing has appeared in places such as UnHerd, The US Sun and The Spectator World.