Santa Claus is the most famous name in Christmas Eve who brings the gift for the children on 24 December and the early morning of 25 December. Santa Claus is also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas and Santa.
St. Nicholas is the man behind the story of Santa Claus who was a Bishop lived in the fourth century in a place called Myra in Asia Minor, now called Turkey. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. It is said that he donated all of his wealth to help the poor and sick. One of the popular story about the St. Nicholas is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father.
Till 16th Century in northern Europe, the stories about St. Nicholas was unpopular. But someone presents this story to children at Christmas particularly in England. And St. Nicholas became 'Father Christmas' or 'Old Man Christmas'. In France, he was then known as 'Père Nöel'.In some countries like Austria and Germany, he is known as the 'Christkind' a golden-haired baby, with wings, who symbolizes the new born baby Jesus.
In the early USA his name was 'Kris Kringle' . Later, Dutch settlers in the USA took the old stories of St. Nicholas with them and Kris Kringle and St Nicholas became 'Sinterklaas' or as we now say 'Santa Claus'.
Many countries, especially ones in Europe, celebrate St. Nicholas' Day on 6th December. In Holland and some other European Countries, children leave clogs or shoes out on the 5th December as this day is St. Nicholas Eve to them. And they also leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas's horse.
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