The Pagan Predecessors to St. Nicholas
The Pagan Gods Who Served as the Original Symbols of the New Years’ and Winter Solstice Celebrations were Mesopotamian, Persian, Egyptian, Greek, Rome, German, Slavic, and Scandinavian, among others.
Silenus
Silenus, Greek God of Wine, on Chariot with Leopards. The Greek god Silenus was tutor to Dionysus, the Greek god of agriculture and wine, and one of the Greek counterparts to the Roman god Saturn. Silenus, known for white beard, round stomach, and jolly nature, traveled in a sleigh
Morozko
A Slavic figure associated with the winter solstice
Perun
Pagan gods in Slavic regions
Thor
Christmas in Christendom,” Harper’s New Monthly Magazine – January 1873
Odin
Rode an eight-legged flying horse named Slepinar
Saturn
The Roman God of Agriculture
An and Enki
The earliest New Year’s or Midwinter ceremonies were in Mesopotamia
The Wild Man
In Santa Claus: Last of the Wild Men, Phyllis Seifker argues