Santa Timeline
“This time line is a document authorities discovered in B’s journal that is believed researched and compiled by B and is presented to the public as further evidence of her action”.
In looking for the seeds of what we have come to know as Santa Claus i have traced it back to one person but, he is mostly a northern hemisphere phenomenon-mixed effort-of myths, creatures and legends…Santa is your basic mutt. However, my search has led me to conclude that the connection between today’s Santa Claus & Christmas is a contrived invention by a handful of “respectable” men living in New York City circa the 1820’s.
This time line document in no way reflects or represents any policy or position of any individual or organization in any way connected to the project.
280 AD
Hagios Nikolaos of Smyrna, aka: Myra, was born in (presently Turkey) to wealthy parents. When the plague killed his parents little Hagios was orphaned to a monastery and by the early age of 17 he became a priest. Smyrna was a fishing village located in southwest Turkey. Because many fishermen lost their lives at sea Kikoloas extended great care and kindness to those children and families who where now fatherless.
Becoming famous for his kindness and generosity toward all, especially the children by ( legend ) Nikolaos dropped bags of gold down chimneys which sometimes landed in stockings hung to dry by the fireplace and for tossing bags of gifts through open windows of the cottages. One legend has Nikolaos restoring to life three boys murdered, chopped up and pickled in a vat of brine by a butcher to hide the crime, thereby becoming the patron saint of schoolboys.
Another has Nikolaos giving three bags of gold to daughters of a poor man thus saving those girls from a life of prostitution. This story evolved into three gold balls which became the symbol for pawnbrokers. Some legendary versions have Nikolaos born in the city of Patara then traveling to Egypt and the Holy Land where he was jailed by Roman Emperor Diocletian during his persecution of the Church and later released by the new more liberal Emperor Constantine. Either way, Nikolaos was elevated to the position of Archbishop. He is described as wearing a tall Bishop’s hat, flowing white gown, a red Bishop’s cape and holding a Bishop’s staff. It was also reported that he had a long white beard
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345 or 352 AD
December 6, Bishop Nikolaos dies and due to his good works and no less than 21 “miracles” credited to him he is eventually elevated to Saint.
400 AD
About this time the Church picks December 25th as the date to observe Christmas because this was a period more closely associated with the long time celebrated winter solstice than with any religious theme. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, named after their god of the harvest: Saturn, about December 17 and extended for several days after. During this celebration schools and the courts were closed, gifts were exchanged, war was outlawed and masters and slaves shared the same table. Not an altogether bad idea for a bunch of pagans.
540 AD
Basilica was erected over the tomb of and dedicated to Saint Nikolaos.
600 AD
In England, occupied by the Saxons who honor King Winter – or King Frost – or Lord Snow by inviting a “character” dressed in a fur hat or a crown into their homes for a friendly fireside chat, which insured a mild winter.
800 -900 AD
In England, now occupied by Vikings who are ruled by their chief God Odin, who comes as twelve assorted characters, one for each month. The December character was called Yalka or Jule and December, was called Jultide or Yuletide. Jultid was the month of Odin’s earthly visit. On this visit Odin disguised himself with a long hooded blue robe and carried a satchel full of bread. He also was old, had a long grey beard and a big hat pulled down to cover a bad eye. He would visit families, sitting by the fire with them, listening to their stories of the past year. He would determine from those stories who had faired well and would leave bread from his satchel for those whom he determined were suffering.
Thor, a germanic god, was god of thunder. He was short tempered, a little stupid but really good hearted and came for visits riding a chariot pulled by two goats named Gap-Tooth and Tooth Grinder.
842 AD
The first story about Saint Nikolaos appears in print. A certain best seller.
987 AD
Saint Nikolaos becomes the patron Saint of Russia.
1000 AD
By now rituals and practices of Paganism and Spiritualism have experienced a merging throughout most of Europe and the beginnings of a completely “contrived” holiday celebration-observance known as Christmas. Pagan rituals of the winter solstice, the shortest daylight of the year, used candles and greenery, holly, the yule log, mistletoe and even the Christmas tree to celebrate the return of longer daylight. This was also behind the idea of Chanukah or “feast of lights”. None of these rituals had any relation to the birth of Jesus.
1300 AD
