Here comes Santa Claus

Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, are all names associated with Santa Claus who is believed to be a legendary and historical character that brings gifts to all persons, especially children on Christmas Day. 

The myths of Santa Claus came from the early Christian church from an actual Bishop in the 4^th century.  He lived in Myra, in the now present day Turkey.  Nicholas was a generous man, who helped a lot of the poorer population in Myra.  There is a kind deed that he is famous for and is recorded in many theological writings.  It was said that he presented three poverty stricken daughters of a righteous man with dowries so that they could be married properly and not have to become prostitutes. 

Nicholas was very religious and devoted his life to the cause of Christ.  Germany tells of a tale of a holy man and a demon.  The demon was believed to slide down the chimneys of homes and kill the children inside.  The holy man hunted the demon and confined him in shackles (these shackles were thought to be the same shackles that had bound the Christ, but later versions claim that the shackles were those of Saint Peter or Paul. 

The holy man made the demon go back and make up to the village what he had done.  They say that the demon agreed and even used imps or elves as helpers, hence becoming Santa Claus.  The Americas and the British indoctrinated this Saint Nicholas but Americanized the Dutch version of the name Sinterklass into Santa Claus. 

This Santa no longer looked like a bishop but an old man with a dark green suit.   Modern ideas of Santa Claus came about by the poem “A visit from St. Nicholas” this title was later changed to the better known title of “If was the night before Christmas.”  This poem was published in 1823, and describes a fat jolly Santa with eight reindeer (who are given names for the first time).