Know More About Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a legendary and mythical figure. In western culture he brings gifts for good children during late in the evening or overnight hours. Stories about Santa Claus is told throughout the world since many years. It is said that Santa Claus visits homes of all the good boys and girls and drop them presents.

The basis of the Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Myra. He was the youngest bishop in the history of the church. During the reign of Roman emperor he was imprisoned with many other Christians. There are many stories about Santa Claus, as a traditional gift bringer. After two hundred years of the death of Saint Nicholas, the last powerful Roman emperor built a church in his honor.

It is being said that father of Nicholas was very rich, wealthy merchant. The well known story about the three maidens says, once there were three poor girls whose father was unable to afford dowry for the marriage of his three daughters. So one day he decided to sell off one of the three daughters to make money for the dowry of the other two.

When Nicholas heard the family’s plight, he went to their home in the midnight and dropped three bags of gold down the chimney and coincidentally it landed in the three socks of the sisters which were hanging by the fire to dry. His kindhearted gift made it possible for all the three sisters to get married.

Originally Saint Nicholas is portrayed wearing bishop’s robes, today Santa Claus is depicted as plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing red coat with white collar and white-cuffed red trousers. This image became popular in America in the 19^th century due to influence of caricaturists and political cartoonists. This image was maintained and reinforced through songs, radio, television and films.

It’s so wonderful to think that after so long Santa Claus is still loved and we still look for the secret coming of Santa with lots of Christmas gifts.