Does Santa know Jesus

Answer 1

Actually Santa is not a fictional character. He does - or at least did exist. The name Santa Claus is Dutch and comes from the Dutch name Saint (Santa) Nicholas (Claus). St Nicholas was a real person who was born in Turkey and became Bishop of Myra. There are many legends surrounding Nicholas some which are factual and some which are more fiction than fact. What we do know is that Nicholas inherited a vast fortune from his parents, who were wealthy merchants, but instead of enjoying the high life he decided to give the money away - in secret, so that he was not praised and made a fuss of by others, just as jesus commanded. Nicholas became Bishop in Myra in Turkey after being a Christian for most of his life.

One such legend, with more historical corroboration than fiction, was that he helped a poor man who had three daughters whom he could not afford to marry off, the only alternative being to sell them into prostitution. The story goes that Nicholas dropped three bags of gold in secret down the house chimney during the night. They landed in shoes lying by the fire drying. Hence the legend of santa coming down the chimney and putting gifts in shoes (in Holland) or stockings (in UK and USA). As a result he is the patron saint of pawnbrokers (money lenders to the poor in return for goods) and hence the pawnbroker's sign is three goden balls representing the three bags of gold.

Although some of the stories have been 'embroidered' over the years, there are many miracles that have also been attributed to Nicholas, including the raising to life three children murdered by a wicked innkeeper (hence he is the patron saint of children) and the calming of a storm at sea (hence he is also the patron saint of sailors).

So if you believe that when he died Nicholas went to heaven to be in the presence of Jesus, then, yes - he did - or does know him.