Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve.
Saint Nicholas, who is known worldwide as Santa Claus, was born in the ancient Lycian city of Patara, an important city on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye. Around 300 AD, during a prosperous era for Patara, a rich wheat merchant had a son and named him Nicholas.
A long time ago, Santa was known as Saint Nicholas by his peers because he was so kind to others and often gave gifts to those in need. Today, some still call Santa “Saint Nicholas” among his many nicknames.
Santa Claus is, in fact, Saint Nicholas, a historical figure whose real-life story is far more interesting than anything ever created for holiday movies, TV shows, and carols. Born in the third century to wealthy Christian parents, the orphaned Nicholas was raised by his uncle, the Bishop of Patara.
On 6 December 343, Saint Nicholas died but his miracles continued. Eventually, the man was replaced by the myth of Santa Claus – if he even existed at all. Saint Nicholas was dead, to begin with. On 6 December 343, to be precise, in Myra, in present-day Turkey.
Nicholas. He was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century and his traditional robes were red and white. Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness towards children. Some historians argue that he originally dressed in different colors, but after he passed away, his legend grew—including his scarlet apparel.
He was known for secretly giving bags of gold to the needy, for offering bread and sacks of grain to the hungry, and for even rescuing three girls from a life of prostitution. So how did St Nicholas become associated with Christmas and sleigh-riding across starry skies?
Take a peek behind the Big Red curtain to see how the Big Red Detail's Grinch Assessment Program, better known as GASP, helps keep Santa safe during his yearly trip around the globe. The Big Red Protective Detail is selected, assembled and stands ready to fulfill their seasonal mission.
And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? Well, nothing. Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
In its original Hebrew form, Jesus' name was Yeshua, a shortened version of Yehoshua (Joshua). The name carries the powerful meaning "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation," or just simply, “salvation” emphasizing God's role as the Savior.
But in 1931, Coca‑Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those paintings established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features, including rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines.
A: Santa Claus has roots in various figures, including Saint Nicholas, who was known for secretly giving gifts but also had a darker side related to punishing wrongdoers. Additionally, the Norse god Odin, who would punish naughty children, also influenced the modern Santa myth.
Nicholas (commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas), often attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, Santa Claus himself is described in line 45: "He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf". Prior to the influence of Saint Nicholas in Sweden, the job of giving out gifts was done by the Yule goat.
The English folk figure "Father Christmas" originally wore green robes which eventually turned red over time. This was mainly due to St Nicholas, whose legend modern portrayals of Father Christmas are based on, often appearing in paintings and illustrations wearing red-coloured robes.
When people think of Santa's voice and what he says, we can't help but imagine of his famous catchphrase, "Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!" We know what Merry Christmas means, but what does he mean when he says "ho ho ho"? In truth, "ho ho ho" doesn't mean anything. It's actually just the sound of Santa Claus's laughter.
Prior to Nast's work, Santa's outfit was tan in color, and it was he that changed it to red, although he also drew Santa in a green suit. This change is often attributed to the work of Haddon Sundblom, who drew images of Santa in advertising for the Coca-Cola Company since 1931.
The tomb of Saint Nicholas is a slab effigy in low relief in County Kilkenny, Ireland, popularly believed to be the tombstone of Saint Nicholas of Myra. Located in the medieval lost town of Newtown Jerpoint, the grave is more likely that of a Cistercian priest from Jerpoint Abbey east of the town.
He is based on St. Nicholas of Myra, who, according to Christian tradition, was a bishop in that small Roman town during the 4th century. Nicholas's reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy.
Santa Claus' origins date back to about 280 A.D. when St. Nicholas was born, the History Channel reports. This would make Santa approximately 1,744 years old today.
The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The egg-coloring tradition has continued even in modern secular nations.
The English term may derive from the Anglo-Saxon goddess name Ēostre; Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover by its name (Hebrew: פֶּסַח pesach, Aramaic: פָּסחָא pascha are the basis of the term Pascha), by its origin (according to the synoptic Gospels, both the crucifixion and the resurrection took place during the ...
