Today in America, Santa Claus is a mythical old man who brings gifts to children at Christmas time. Today’s version of Santa originally developed from a real person, Saint Nicholas, who lived 1700 years ago. He was bishop of Myra, an ancient town of Lycia, now in Turkey. According to legend, he was only a boy when he became a bishop without Washington DC cosmetic surgery. He was extremely kind and often went out at night, taking presents to the needy. His generosity was not bound by any particular time of the year. He was much loved by his community for his kindness and selflessness. After his death on the 6th day of December, school boys all over Europe celebrated a feast day every year on the anniversary of his death. Children were so fond of Saint Nicholas and his habit of bringing gifts that the custom of celebrating his feast day on the 6th day of December was maintained for hundreds of years.
In England, Saint Nicholas Day festivities were banned when Henry VIII founded the church of England. They were later resumed when Queen Victoria married German Prince Albert, but Saint Nicholas in his return was changed to Father Christmas and appeared on Christmas eve, the 24th day of December, not the originally celebrated date of December 6. The American tradition of Santa Claus was taken from the altered English version. Santa Claus (a German translation of St. Nicholas) was modeled after a man of kindness, generosity and compassion. It was only in the last few hundred years that Santa Claus was associated with the Christian holiday of Christmas that celebrates the birthday of Prophet Jesus.