| “ | Santa Claus: Tonight, young boys and girls all over the globe are waiting, hoping, expecting Santa Claus to arrive, and if I don't... well you don't want to know what happened the last time I couldn't make my round. Kate Pierce: Yes, we do. Tell us! (pulls out video camera and records him) Santa: You've heard of the dark ages, read about all those wars in school? Teddy Pierce: Yeah, sure but... wait, those happened because you missed Christmas? Santa: Christmas spirit is more powerful than you could ever imagine. People need Christmas to remind themselves of how good they can be! Without it... well, Christmas... simply... must endore! |
„ |
| ~ Santa introducing himself to the Pierce siblings. |
Saint Nicholas (often referred to as St. Nick) better known as Santa Claus is the deuteragonist of the Christmas Chronicles duology. He's a co-ruler of the North Pole as well as the elves' boss and leader.
He's portrayed by Kurt Russell.
What Makes Him Pure Good?[]
In General[]
- Even though he's shown to be a thrill-seeker very often, he rarely ever lets it get in the way of his heroism, and he'd gladly place his own interests aside if it means helping others out.
Before the films[]
- Back in his early life, Saint Nick was once an ordinary man without any special powers, although he was born into wealth. Unfortuantely, the fellow townspeople he grew up with weren't so fortunate. One day back in 312 AD, Nick heard about a poor man who was a father of three young women who would be forced into a life of servitude unless they could get married to husbands. But the father couldn't afford a dowry to their potential husbands, and so the daughters could never be married. After hearing about the man and his daughters, Nick was determined to help them. He opened a window where he saw old flattered socks left hanging on the fireplace, and climbed inside, dropping a gold coin into each sock. After which, the daughters would celebrate their newfound riches with their father. As he watched through the window and warmly smiled, it would cause Nick to realize how the simple act of giving could change children's lives.
- Following the aforementioned situation with the father and his three daughters. Saint Nicholas would become a bishop who had discovered the joy of giving. He'd put his wealth to good use, by going around to various buildings placing goodies in stockings and coins in old shoes, becoming a local hero, leading to his selfless deeds and actions quickly becoming well-known.
- After hearing about how elves were constantly hunted down by humans for their magic powers and captured to the point of endangerment, he was prophesied to be the "King of the Elves" and he gladly accepted his position without hesitation, channeled the Star of Bethlehem's power, and led the elves on a mystical journey to an unknown land where Christmas would truly endure -- the North Pole, earning the name of Santa Claus, and saving the elf tribe from extinction and gaining their loyalty and gratitude.
- Was shown to be an excellent, considerate, reasonable and patient boss towards his elves, as he's never shown playing favorites and would teach them the art of inventing and even share a few tips and help them out occasionally.
- Continued his tradition of bring gifts and joy to people -- especially children -- across the globe for over 1,700 years, and despite not always being able to make his rounds in, which would lead to the Dark Ages and various wars, he never loses his hope and never gives up, showing just how dedicated he is to his job.
- Despite often neglecting his elf Belsnickel and indirectly causing him to go on a rebellious streak, he's clearly not purposefully trying to do so, and he's always shown to be super busy, looking out for some other elves, or both. He still cares about and loves him, to the point where he tried to talk sense into him and reason with him despite gaining a very naughty streak.
- Even after he breaks every rule in the Elf Code and transforms into a human as a result (elves hate humans due to being hunted down by them), rather than banish him from the village, he offers to help cure him and get to know him more.
The Christmas Chronicles[]
- Aware of Kate and Teddy Pierce's differences, as well as the latter losing the Christmas spirit, he purposefully sets up a series of events that would lead to him getting into an accident, leads the Pierces thousands of miles away from home, and lies about his lost hat being the source of his magic powers, forcing the Pierces to accompany him to make up for lost time while also allowing the two to reconcile and get closer.
- Through the film, numerous parallels are subtly drawn between Santa and the Holy Spirit, which is even brought up at the very end of the movie. For example:
- Santa goes into dark places of society to rescue people with the "spirit of Christmas" (i.e.: the mission of the Holy Spirit). Officer Dave Poveda and the other cops take him to prison, but it's been shown that he intended for this to happen. He allowed himself to go to jail to touch the life those who were in there, both of the hardened cops and thieves, all of which he knows by name, including current situations that are going on in their personal lives. This is reflective of the Holy Spirit stepping into the darkness of our lives to rescue us, after all, Christ is King over the darkness.
- He allowed various seemingly crazy situations to happen to himself so that he could bring light into other people's lives. For example, he helps out Officer Dave Poveda and offers to help him reconnect with his ex-wife, even though Poveda had just placed him in society and was about to arrest him. And although Poveda would accuse him off being a street magician and a hacker, he never gets offended and continues trying to persuade him, until Poveda eventually caves in and gets back with his wife, to which he's extremely grateful for Santa's aid.
- Despite of all his gifts and abilities, he never has an attitude of feeling like he's better than anyone. Rather, he's portrayed as a man on a mission, who has humbly accepted the beautiful role that he plays in making the world a better place. He's usually very humble and down-to-earth.
- He treats the adults as if they were the very same children who used to believe in him and write him letters.
- Back in his home in the North Pole, he has an archive of all the letters that he has received from everyone over the years, which is a symbolism of God's love for all of us, of how important our feelings are for God as his children, and also that he listens to every single one of their prayers.
- He also has a book with a page per family, showing their genealogy. If a family member's name is written in the book then it means that they are "nice". Otherwise, if their spot in the book is empty, it means that they are "naughty". The "nice-naughty" book is a symbolism for the "Book of Life" that is described in the Book of Revelations of the Bible. In addition, the fact that family members whose names are not written in the book still have a spot in the book is indicative that Santa has hope that they will become good people one day, which is a symbolism of God's never ending, continuous, pursuit of our hearts in order to save us and bring us back home to Him.
- He manages to place Teddy in a few situations that lead him to awaken to identity once again, an identity that he lost once his earthly father died. Then afterwards, he forgives Teddy and Kate for the accident, takes back his punishment, and grants Teddy's wish to brief see his father again, via magic ornament
- While he does end up stealing a car during his search to find his lost reindeer, he only did so because there were no other options and because it was "already stolen", plus he initially showed hesitation and over doing so.
The Christmas Chronicles 2[]
- He abandons to hunt Jola The Yule Cat in favor to recusing Kate and Jack from freezing to death in the North Pole and keeping them warm.
- Comes to deeply care about Kate and Jack as if they were his own children.
- Upon getting trapped in 1990 Boston via a time-travel device planted on Santa's sleigh, temporarily being unable to return to the present, and forced to go to an airport where Christmas spirit was extremely low, he would raise everyone's spirits of spirit and get everybody singing a Christmas song as the weather clears up.
- Upon reencountering Belsnickel after his defeat, he'd give him back the first toy they built together, lead Belsnickel to reconciles with him, cure him and return him to an elf, and allow Belsnickel to reobtain his career as one of Santa's most loyal workers, even though Santa had full permission to banish him from the village after nearly ruining Christmas.
Trivia[]
- Ironically, his actor, Kurt Russell played Ego, a Pure Evil villain.
- He's so far the only version of Santa Claus (and Nicholas of Myra) to be Pure Good.
External Links[]
- Santa Claus (The Christmas Chronicles) on the Heroes Wiki
- Santa Claus (The Christmas Chronicles) on the The Ultimate Good Wiki
