Episode 55
55. Should I Tell My Children About St. Nicholas?
Putting St. Nicholas Back in Christmas:
How did the modern version of the Christmas season come to be? From Santa Claus and the reindeer at Macy's Thanksgiving Parade to the classic songs, these traditions are not only new, they were created by department stores and other industries.
This doesn't make it bad, but we should be honest about it.
There are also other versions that might be better. What are other versions of a generous gift giver? Is Saint Nicholas a viable candidate?
Ultimately, this episode tries to make a case for having an honest understanding of Christmas traditions and an encouragement to know the history of Saint Nicholas and how his story might be useful in our contemporary culture.