There are numerous legends told about St. Nicholas, the patron saint of giving. Saint Nicholas lived many centuries ago and because of his deeds he also became the patron saint of children. According to some of these legends, he was born at Parara, a city of Lycia in Asia Miinor. He made a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine and shortly after his return, he became Bishop of Myra. He was imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian for being a Christian and later released by Emperor Constantine. He died in AD343, with Dec. 6th being his feast day. When his parents died, they left him well off and he became determined to give his fortune to works of charity. He adored children and often disguised himself and begged for money, then went around to the villages and gave the money to the poor children. He often threw gifts through the windows of their homes.

St. Nicholas is pronounced "Sinter Klaas" in Dutch. In 1809, Washington Irving wrote "A History of New York and in it he included St. Nicholas "riding over the tops of the trees, in that selfsame wagon wherein he brings his yearly presents to children". In 1821, William Gilley wrote a poem entitled "Santeclaus" and described him as dressed in fur and driving a sleigh pulled by one reindeer. In 1823, Clement Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and had him flying through the air with a sleigh and eight reindeer. Thomas Nast, in 1866, gave him the appearance we all know today in a Harper's Weekly.

It is said that in Europe, St. Nicholas filled children's shoes and not their stockings with gifts. If the child was good he or she received candy. If the child was bad then he or she received switches. Thus, the idea of rewarding the good children and punishing the bad children was born.

In the 1100s nuns in France resurrected the custom of giving gifts for children on St. Nicholas Day.

Swiety Mikolaj - a.k.a. Saint Nicholas was a cardinal in the Catholic Church in Poland. He visits the children on December 5th. Sinterklaas is another saint, who is celebrated on the 5th of December. Sinterklaas is assisted by zwarte pieten while he goes down chimneys to deliver gifts.

Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas in England. He looks like Santa Claus, except he wears a longer coat (either red or green) and a long beard.

Papa Noel, as Santa is known in Spain, delivers gifts on December 25. Here children may also receive gifts from the Three Kings (the Three Wise Men) on January 6th.

Santa is also known as Kriss Kringle, thought to derive from medieval Bavaria where St. Nicholas was the messenger who took children's requests to the Christ Child.

Santa is known as Gwiazdor - or Star Man -- for the North Star in Poland. There the Christmas Eve meal begins once the first star is seen.

 

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