St. Nicholas by Jaroslav ΔermΓ‘k
What is the meaning of Christmas?
The Christmas season has so many variations: the winter solstice and all ancient celebrational practices; the replacement of these with the birth of Christ, and St. Nicholas, the secret gift giver, who then morphed into our modern Santa Claus. Christmas, besides the material meaning of giving gifts, can be said is the end of the darkest days with long nights and the beginning of the return of the sun/son, with the promise of light, warmth and love to the soul and all of creation. Love overcomes the appearance of death/winter, bringing the birth of the world, into Spring.