Santa Claus and the Baby Jesus seem to duke it out every December, especially on television. In the commercials, Santa wins hands down, THE super salesman for "holiday gifting." [Am I alone in this, or does anyone else think "giving" is a perfectly fine word? Even the redundancy of giving gifts seems more acceptable than gifting.]Compared to Santa's public appearances in shopping malls, this ho-ho-ho fellow rarely shows up at church. He's commercial, disreputable and a distraction, at best a passing visitor at a church supper.
This Sunday, though, Santa showed up at the Heart of Longmont for the "Hanging of the Greens."
At this celebration the Christmas decorations, the white and sparkly Chrismons (Christ monograms) made throughout November, are placed on the tree in the front of the sanctuary. The symbolism of each is explained: this year it was candles, canes, crosses and crowns. During the Hanging of the Greens the children sing, the bells ring, parents take photos and the beginning of advent is layered into the collage of Christmases Past, Present and Future.
With impeccable timing, Santa arrived, dressed in his red and white robes. He carried a crosier, a traditional shepherd's staff symbolizing a pastor's responsibilities. (Think candy canes.) In a kindly voice Santa told the children his story: he was born and grew up in a Greek town called Myra in what is now Turkey. He was named Nicholas. He became a pastor and then a bishop in the Christian church. He began secretly helping the poor for the sake of the Baby Jesus: gifts of food, clothing and coins. People began to call him a saint for his good work. They liked the idea so much they secretly copied Saint Nicholas' example. The tradition of anonymous holiday generosity in the name of Jesus spread among Christians all over the world. Saint Nicholas's name changed with the languages, morphing into Sinter 'Clas and Santa Claus, and, as he still is called, Jolly Old St. Nick.
And so,this year in the Heart of Longmont at least, Santa Claus and Jesus are of one mind: the heart of Christmas is giving. More specifically, the heart of Christmas is serving the poor--in the name of Jesus.