Santa Claus was a saint, but I don’t think he has much to do with the real meaning of Christmas. Particularly among Protestants.
St. Nicholas is still honored amongst us Anglo-Catholics and others, as a Greek bishop who became the original (model for) Santa Claus. And there is more to the tradition tied to him than what Wikipedia posts. One could say he is among the "accretions" -- but "real meaning of Christmas" is a definition so much left to the reader and thus completely meaningless that one can take any position and declare himself the definer. Until the next definer comes along.
If you don't think Santa Claus has much to do with the "real meaning of Christmas," in most part I agree with you (because Christmas is foremost the celebration of the birth of Jesus) and in part I reserve judgment -- because it all depends (again) upon the definition of the "real meaning of Christmas," a term for which you will not find agreement across what is externally viewed as Christianity.
In secular America Santa Claus has become pretty much divorced from Christianity, if not completely. IMHO the "Young Mens' C(an't say what we are, if we even are that anymore, and why are you asking?) Organization" is being stupid.