| Santa Clause comes to us with several names. | | | | Guinness, in America cookies and a glass of |
| For some he is know as Saint Nicholas, and | | | | milk, in England he receives mince pies and |
| for others Father Christmas or quite simply | | | | sherry. No wonder then that he is perceived |
| Santa. While people interchange Santa and | | | | as a happy pot bellied character!How then did |
| Father Christmas from an historical | | | | St. Nicholas make the transformation from a |
| perspective they are two different persons.It | | | | bishop to a jolly old man with red cheeks. |
| was Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the | | | | The transformation did not happen all at once |
| 4th century in what is now modern day Turkey, | | | | but over a period of time and goes back |
| who gave birth to the modern day Santa | | | | before the American revolution to the time |
| Clause. As bishop he developed a reputation | | | | when the Dutch controlled what is now New |
| for secret gift giving.In the Western | | | | York. When the Dutch arrived in America they |
| tradition the day of gift giving is on the | | | | took with them the legend of Saint Nicholas, |
| 25th December while in the Eastern tradition | | | | at this stage he still dressed as a bishop.In |
| the day for gift giving is New Years Day.Most | | | | Washington Irving's History of New York, |
| of us see Santa as a friendly, pot bellied | | | | Sinterklaas was Americanised to "Santa Claus" |
| sort of character who rides from house to | | | | but lost his bishop's apparel, and was at |
| house, through the sky, on a sleigh pulled by | | | | first pictured as a thick bellied Dutch |
| reindeer. It is possible that the tradition | | | | sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. |
| of ridding through the sky comes from a | | | | Irving's book was a lampoon of the Dutch |
| Germanic tradition where the god Wodam is | | | | culture of New York, and much of this |
| seen riding a flying horse through the sky. | | | | portrait is his joking invention.Santa |
| The horse has eight legs, the same number of | | | | Clauses robes changed over the years until in |
| reindeer that Santa uses!While Santa is | | | | 1885 the modern costume was born. At around |
| portrayed as a jolly man giving out present | | | | this time his horse was converted to reindeer |
| to deserving children he is also used to keep | | | | and a sleigh, his slaves into elves and the |
| children in check. Traditionally Irish | | | | date was moved forward to coincide with |
| children, and a large number of their | | | | Christmas.For those interested Santa's eight |
| European and American counterparts, hang up a | | | | reindeers were given their name in the |
| stocking for their gifts but are told that if | | | | popular poem by Clement Clarke Moore 'the |
| they are not good all year round, they will | | | | Night Before Christmas.'Kevin Hart |
| receive a lump of coal instead of a decent | | | | |
| present.In most traditions food or drink are | | | | - the family site for Christmas. - an |
| left out for him to help him on his journey. | | | | invaluable resource for creative writers. |
| In Ireland it is traditionally a bottle of | | | | Large data bank of writing contests. |