St. Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara in Asia Minor (Now known as Turkey). His parents were wealthy and raised him as a Christian. After his parents death, Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy and was known throughout the land for his generosity. His devotion to God lead him to be named Bishop of Myra.

During that time, Christians were persecuted and imprisoned by the Roman emperor, as was Bishop Nicholas.

After he was released, he attended the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 AD. He died in 343 AD and was burried at his bassilica in Myra. His remains were removed due to the islamic invasions and relocated to Bari, Italy in the year 1087, where they are to this day.

He was revered in churches throughout Europe and countless good deeds were done in his name including the putting of gifts in stockings & shoes that were left outside the doors overnight.

The Germans called him "Sankt Niklaus", while the Dutch knew him as "Sinterklaas". This later evolved into the name "Santa Claus."

In the Scandinavian lands, the lap shamons rode sleds pulled by reindeer. They'd give hand carved toys to kids during the season of Yuletide (winter solstice). They wore red & white furs made from polar bear hide. The red dye was undoubtedly made from the bears' blood.

These legends (as well as others) came together to form what we now know as the modern day Christmas traditions.

So, now you know: There really is a Santa Claus!

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

Thank you for that fantastic read :)!

Didn't Rome convert to Christianity around his time? Anyways, it was a good read. I always thought he lived in northern Europe since that is where most of out Christmas traditions originated from.

Great read, I thought the idea of "red" came from Coca-Cola...

Great read, I thought the idea of "red" came from Coca-Cola...
ya, didnt our version of santa claus come from coca cola?

ya, didnt our version of santa claus come from coca cola?
The hat & jacket did. Prior to the modern day "Coca Cola Santa", he was usually seen in a long red bishop's robe. Instead of the stocking cap, he wore a miter.

INteresting, thanks for posting

He...died?

He...died?
Yeah, and he's burried in Italy.

wh wha what!?!?


santa's dead?:icon_snif

My parents told me that when I realized Santa wasn't real. If memory serves me there was a whole mess of guys who continued his tradtion for a while.

so there WAS a santa claus lol
lmao.

so bear blood? Santa's pretty **** vicious. why hasn't he brought me a gun then like i asked this year, and have asked every year since i was five?

so bear blood? Santa's pretty **** vicious. why hasn't he brought me a gun then like i asked this year, and have asked every year since i was five?
Because 'You'll shoot your eye out, kid!' ;)

Yeah, but im sure he doesn't live in the North Pole and fly riehndeer.

well where did the reindeer come from then?

From the Scandinavian lap shamons who rode around with reindeer pulled sleds.

Just thought I'd resurect this topic for the Christmas season.

yea i knew there was a real "Santa Claus" but modern day society has turned him into just another magical holiday figure.

this is the story my mom told me when I found out he wasn't real, but he was

the internet saved me from thinking santa was real when i was 10.
heehee, i also saw some things i shouldnt have seen, but i didnt type in the search so...
i guess this is going to be a major letdown for FS

The way Santa's reigndeer got their ability to fly came from the story of the pagan god Thor, who flew through the sky on a chariot pulled by goats.

hey there is no santa clause, only sinterklaas and thats who st. nicholas is. but santa clause was a copy of st. nicholaas.

The real one is called Sinterklaas :(

yea i knew there was a real "Santa Claus" but modern day society has turned him into just another magical holiday figure.

And the judges say *Buzzer sound* Oh I'm sorry incorrect. Early christians actually did that. Turns out that Chrismas falls the pagan holiday of Yule or Yuletide. In which the pagans celebrated the birth of the son of the Babylonian Queen of Heaven on december 25. So there is something to be learned here. All major religons are what I call a fail.

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTUwMzczNjg0MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNzI5MTA3._V1._ SX485_SY318_.jpg
There's only two kinds of people in this world I despise--those who are intolerant of others' cultures, and the Dutch!

^ Yeah the dutch are gay.

There's only two kinds of people in this world I despise--those who are intolerant of others' cultures, and the Dutch!

You are just jealous your Santa is based on our Sinterklaas :(

Erm...that's a quote from Goldmember, and I'm part Dutch, J-Ros.

No, you are just jealous :p

Hehehe. :)

This thread is unacceptable! Dutch? Sinterklaas!?
Christmas is ruined!

Yeah the dutch ruin a lot of good things.
The only good thing that has come from the dutch is the dutch oven, and thats only because its funny as hell.

im jewish. :D can you prove anything about chanukah harry?

Thanks to 12 years of Catholic schooling, I knew this!

I knew he was real.

im jewish.

I almost wish i was half jewish. That way I could celebrate christmukah. Not sure where the name was coined though.

Doesn't explain how an fat, old guy whose been long dead rides a sleigh with a sack full of presents can somehow fit every gift for every little boy and girl in the entire world with flying reindeer pulling him through the sky and squeezes his tub of lard down a chimney and mysteriously laying out presents under the tree without being caught by the people who live in the house or even seen by someone who stays up all night watching out for him as he carries on his mission without even stopping to give any unprivileged/homeless, non-catholics, and non-middle class children presents.

Interesting story though. I always wondered how this fad all started.

thats why sinterklaas is skinny and has a lot of (black) helpers ;)

Also, the name Kris Kringle actually came from the Dutch/German word "Crist Kindle", which translates to Christ Child. While St. Nicholas was viewed as the primary figure of Christmas, but the prodestant reformation brought people to believe that the Christ Child should be the primary figure. So the story told to children was that the Christ Child was the one who delivered the presents. This went on for a few generations, but eventually St. Nicholas retook the tradition and as the name "Crist Kindle" became Americanized, it later became Kris Kringle and was then given as another name for St. Nicholas.

The British call him "Father Christmas", in Russia he's known as "Grandfather Frost" and in some traditions he's known as "Bellsnickle".

no in russia hes "Ded Moroz" " Дед Мороз" or "Grandpa of Frost"

no in russia hes "Ded Moroz" " Дед Мороз" or "Grandpa of Frost"

That's what I said.

And the judges say *Buzzer sound* Oh I'm sorry incorrect. Early christians actually did that. Turns out that Chrismas falls the pagan holiday of Yule or Yuletide. In which the pagans celebrated the birth of the son of the Babylonian Queen of Heaven on december 25. So there is something to be learned here. All major religons are what I call a fail.

Yes, there are 12 days of Yuletide. The pagans believed one of their gods was born on the 5th day of Yuletide (December 25th). Over the years, the Christians adopted that into their own traditions because as Christianity spread, more and more of the pagans converted to Christians, thus celebrated the birth of Christ on that day instead.

Christmas eventually adopted the same 12 day tradition that Yuletide has. The first day being December 25th and the last being January 5th. On January 6th, Epiphany (also called Twelth Night or Three Kings Day) was then celebrated.

Here's a few interesting vids about St. Nicholas & the origins of other Christmas traditions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSAn7piFIk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCK5qGxjA2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj38O48wO58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQsWNXn7FaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jkjbdWGAQ8

...and.... here's a video from the History Channel:

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=christmas&bcpid=3924558001&bctid=5097598001

And the judges say *Buzzer sound* Oh I'm sorry incorrect. Early christians actually did that. Turns out that Chrismas falls the pagan holiday of Yule or Yuletide. In which the pagans celebrated the birth of the son of the Babylonian Queen of Heaven on december 25. So there is something to be learned here. All major religons are what I call a fail.

The Romans put Christmas on Dec 25 the detour the thought of the pagan celebration. That's the only reason its Dec 25. Jesus was actually born in the spring.