Reconstructing Christmas | Here Comes Santa Claus

Week 3 -
For many of us, Santa Claus embodied the magic of Christmas when we were children: a selfless, timeless being who rewarded good behavior with lavish gifts. But where did our modern-day understanding of Jolly Old St. Nick come from? And how is he perceived around the world? And what does any of that have to do with Jesus? 

Series overview -
Ever wondered why some of our cherished Christmas traditions are so…cherished? It’s kind of weird that we put ornament-adorned trees in our homes and immerse our neighborhoods in lights and deck our halls with boughs of holly, all while waiting for a chubby old man ensconced in velvet to break into our homes via chimney. How did all of that start? And what does it mean? And why does it matter? We’re going to pull all of it apart and then put it back together in surprising and delightful ways as we spend this December Reconstructing Christmas.