True Story of Saint Nicholas

by Rebecca Benson Haskell, Elizabeth Durham Goodhue (Illustrator)

Santa Claus is real.
His name comes from the Dutch colloquial "Sinterklaas," a short way of saying Sint Nicolaas. This charming book, ideal for under the Christmas tree, is the result of the effort of a great-grandmother from Marblehead, Massachusetts to tell her family about the real Santa Claus, a Christian saint born around 260 AD, known to us as St. Nicholas. His way of giving anonymously became the foundation for today's Christmas Eve visitor, filling the stockings of expectant children.
Mrs. Haskell felt it was important for her family to understand the real person behind today's distorted conception. St. Nicholas was not the creation of a cabal of department store merchandisers, or Madison Avenue advertising agencies; he was an important figure in the early Church, and a participant in the Council of Nicaea.
Royalties from this book, published so that other families can pass along the true background of our favorite Christmas tradition, will go to Mrs. Haskell's home church in Salem, Massachusetts.
This book offers families a way to add an element of authenticity to their Christmas celebration, and help their children understand what Christmas is really all about.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I kept saying “wow” out loud 😊

[Pachyderm Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

He knew when we were bad or good, but most of us won't remember his life as a saint for the Catholic church, much less a living person, as this book so wonderfully illustrates.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author wrote this little 27 page book in response to some parents she heard complaining.They were at Grace Episcopal Church in Salem, Mass. The parents said Christmas had become too commercial and one said, "And Santa Claus, What does he have to do with Christmas?" The author asked them,"Don't you know that St. Nicholas was a bishop of the early church?" She wrote the story of this man and it was first published in 1964.

I gather there is a tradition as this as a read aloud book with family at Christmas time. Love that idea.
Loved the afterword. She mentions Clement Moore and his poem," A visit from St. Nicholas." She says when you read that poem again (Twas the Night before Christmas)"remember that the "jolly old elf" called St. Nick or Santa Claus was once a real person who knew that the greatest present in the world was God's gift to us, the Baby Jesus who was born in a manger on Christmas morning."

Thank-you, Sally. Loved reading it this morning.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non-commercialized look at the man the Santa legend is based on, and a lovely way to introduce the story of this saint.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet explanation of Saint Nicholas with charming wood-block-like illustrations. Perfect to share with families...next step would be The Autobiography of Santa Claus.