Awana Christmas Program 2025: Why Do We Call It Christmas?

I’m confused Why do we call Christmas ‘Christmas’? At church and Awana, we have a Jesus, but in stores, on TV, and at school, we have a Santa Claus Christmas. It feels like two different holidays. Why do we give presents? Why do we hang stockings? And what does Santa Claus have to Jesus? I am confused.

Let’s answer that question, kids.

For a long time, some churches have had a special service called Mass.

Once a year, on December 25, they had a special service called Mass. It was to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who we call “the Christ.” This special, once-a-year Mass was called the “Christ’s Mass.”

That is where the name comes from. But what does it have to do with the guy in the red suit?

If Christmas is all about Jesus, what does Santa have to do with it?

Do you know the real Santa Claus loves Jesus?

Let me ask you a question: Do you know Santa’s real name? Let me give you a clue: “The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…In hopes that Saint Nichols soon would be there!”

Now, who is Saint Nicholas?

A long time ago, there was a leader in the church named Saint Nicholas. He loved Jesus very much, and he wanted to show that love to others by helping them.

His parents left him a lot of money. And if he heard that someone needed food or clothes, he would sneak up to their window at night and throw a bag of coins inside.

Do you think that made him popular? Especially when news spread about the time he tossed a bag of coins to help three poor girls, and it landed in their stockings, which they had hung up to dry.

Does that sound familiar?

He was so appreciated that churches gave Nicholas his own special day, called Saint Nicholas Day.

Kids would hang up their stockings or put out their shoes to see what Santa Nicholas would leave them. Sometimes they’d find an orange, or a piece of candy, maybe even a small toy.

Now that sounds a lot like what we do on Christmas, doesn’t it?

Saint Nicholas Day was on December 6. Christ’s Mass was on December 25. About 500 years ago, many churches stopped celebrating days dedicated to saints, like Saint Nicholas.

But the tradition was so popular that it wouldn’t go away. So many churches moved Saint Nicholas Day and combined it with Christ’s Mass, and together, gave us our Christmas.

But there is one final question: How did Saint Nicholas’ name change to Santa Claus?

Stories of Saint Nicholas reached America through Dutch settlers 300 years ago. Dutch kids would set out their wooden shoes waiting for a visit from Saint Nicholas. But in Dutch, Saint Nicholas was called Sinteklaas. Over time, Sinterklaas changed to Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is actually Saint Nicholas.

So when we celebrate Christmas, we are actually celebrating the birth of Jesus - Christ’s Mass and Saint Nicholas Day put together.

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever get. And we celebrate Saint Nicholas because he gave to others out of a love for Jesus.

So when you’re excited on Christmas morning because of Santa Claus, remember, it was Jesus who excited Santa Claus.

(Idea inspired by Buck Denver asks…Why Do We Call It Christmas?, Phil Vischer, 2014)