St. Nick, Santa, and Slavery
By Chad Crawford • Dec 7th, 2009 • Category: engaging
You might know that the historical St. Nick was a generous person who loved children, but you might not have heard the tale about him saving little girls from being sold into sexual slavery.
The legend goes that St. Nicholas, the bishop of Myra in the 4th c, found out that a destitute father was going to sell his three daughters into prostitution because he didn’t have enough for dowries to get them married off. In an act of compassion, Nicholas threw sacks of coins into their window, which landed in shoes. It was enough gold to prevent the heinous inevitability of slavery.
I have no idea if any of this is historically accurate. What is true is that slavery existed then and exists today, with an estimated 27 million slaves in the world.
Elements from this story have evolved into traditions, which ironically benefit slavery through rampant consumerism. Instead of throwing gifts through the window into shoes, Santa climbs in through the chimney and puts them into stockings. Even the chocolate gold coins that are given are thought to be connected to the story. Chocolate is one of the biggest ways that we in the U.S. contribute to slavery.
Yesterday, Dec. 6 was the day the Feast of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, was celebrated. What if the story would have led to acts of compassion and justice during the Christmas season instead of the Santa Claus tradition?
Here are some ways to change the game
Read more: Bargains Galore! But Who Pays the Price?
Be a socially conscious consumer: Free2Work.org
Become an abolitionist: NotForSaleCampaign.org
The Advent Conspiracy (HBC 35)
Get this book: Everyday Justice by Julie Clawson (HBC 67)
Chad Crawford is a graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wake Forest University Divinity School. He is originally from Austin, Texas and now lives in San Francisco, where he is the online communications manager for Interfaith Power & Light, a nonprofit organization mobilizing a religious response to global warming. He's a former youth minister and long distance hiker sharing thoughts on ecology, politics, culture, and faith.
Follow Chad on Twitter | Chad on Facebook
Email this author | All posts by Chad Crawford
“What if the story would have led to acts of compassion and justice during the Christmas season instead of the Santa Claus tradition?” I think we would have a better world today if this had happened. The Santa Claus myth gets us into all kinds of trouble. Consumerism increases and lying to our children is acceptable. I am not a Bah Humbug character but would love to see something different take its place.