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