How St. Nick Became Santa
© Therese Boucher 1998
[Seamstress: (decorates stage, singing, "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" or "Little St. Nick")
Jolly old St. Nicholas; lend your ear this way. Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say. Christmas time is coming soon now you dear old man. Whisper what you'll bring to me. Tell me if you can.]
Narrator: I brought an old Christmas story about St. Nicholas. Some of you
know him as Santa. In many different lands Santa has different names. In England he is Father Christmas, in Holland - Sinter Claus, in Germany - Kris Kringle.
Now for my story: "'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."
Mouse: Squeak, (runs across stage)
Fr. Nick: (coughs behind stage, and says, "HO HO HO.")
Narrator: Did you hear something? Maybe it was my imagination. Let's
continue. "All the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in the hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there."
St. Nick: Did someone call me?
Narrator: I don’t think so. Is your name Nicholas?
St. Nick: (puppet nods) Yes, I’m Father Nick.
Narrator: Then you could be a big help. I was just about to tell everyone a story about Saint Nicolas. We could do our story as an interview instead. How exciting. Would that be OK with you?
St. Nick: That's OK. Can I talk about Jesus?
Narrator: Yes, of course. Now go back downstairs until I can give you a proper
introduction. Once upon a time, almost as far back as the time of Jesus, there was a young fellow by the name of Nicholas.
St. Nick: Hello. God bless you!
Narrator: Nicholas loved Jesus and wanted to help people. Once when he was a teenager, he heard about a girl who was so poor that she decided to become a servant. Nicholas snuck over to her house at night and put money in her stocking. Back then there were no washer and dryers, so the stocking was hanging on the window sill.
St. Nick: Excuse me, but I really wanted that to be a secret. Who told? I like
it when people thank God instead of me.
Narrator: I'm sorry, Fr. Nick. I thought these people might want to know, so they can give secret gifts too. Now where was I? Nicolas loved God and the people in his church so much that he became a priest. Then everyone called him Fr. Nick (just like you). He still gave gifts, but he also taught and prayed. Could you show us some of the things Fr. Nick would have done?
St. Nick: Why yes. Let’s pray:"In the name of the Father…" Can everyone practice with me?”
Narrator: He was such a great priest that he was also made into a bishop. And what a day that was! Oh dear, you will need new clothes. How do you feel about your promotion?
Fr. Nick: It’s OK as long as we love Jesus!
Narrator: I have just what you need (Puts on vestment and hat. Fr Nick
thanks her and ad-libs responses like Bishop’s blessing.)
Even when Bishop Nicholas was very old he continued to teach about
Jesus, and he loved to take care of people. Some say that he rode a donkey and kept little candies in his saddlebags for the children in the villages.
Narrator: You'll need this now (adds a beard). And you are looking
tired. Would you like to go and rest?
Fr. Nick: Yes I am getting tired. Time for a nap, I think. Good night, Everybody. Good night Jesus.
Narrator: Now it's time to tell you what happened after the Bishop died. People
knew that he was praying for them, and still helping them and they decided to call him St. Nicholas.
He certainly liked to change his name a lot. Let 's see if he answers to these new names. Oh, Father Christmas! (Bell rings) Oh Sinter Claus! (Bell rings) Perre Noel! (Bell rings) Oh, St. Nicholas! (comes out)
St. Nick: Hello. Merry advent. Is everyone ready for Christmas?
Narrator: Many, many years went by and some people in our country changed
more than his name. First they took away his bishop's hat. Bishops don’t wear these on the street. They thought about lots of hats and finally gave him a winter cap. (Optional: mention Thomas Nast and his cartoon,)
Narrator: Is that OK with you St. Nicholas?
St. Nick: That’s OK, as long as we love Jesus.
Narrator: "Now wait a minute," someone said, "Real men don't wear robes, let's try
pants and boots". (Seamstress puts each item on as mentioned).
Narrator: Is that OK with you St. Nicholas?
St. Nick: It's OK as long as we love Jesus.
Narrator: Then someone decided that heaven was much to far away, and Who
knows where heaven is? So they moved him to the North Pole. (Nicholas interrupts about reindeer & balance issues)
Wait a minute. Who do we have here? I don't know what to call
you. St. Nicholas or Santa Claus?
St. Nick: My mother has that same problem.
(Voting is done with audience.) Do you mind if some of us turn you into Santa?
Hokey Santa: OOO. I want to be Santa! I want to be Santa.
Narrator: Well, yes. Anybody in this room can be Santa and give secret gifts.
St. Nick. It's OK as long as we love Jesus. Oh, I almost forgot I brought a gift to
help us get ready for Christmas? Let's practice singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. (Gets a candle from off stage.)
Everyone: Sings "Happy Birthday"
Narrator: (Optional: activity: Making birthday cards for Jesus with a drawing about the birthday gifts each one will give Jesus).
