Whether you know him as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, or simply Santa Claus, this figure has come to symbolize Christmas for many people. This mythical figure has many points of origin, from history, folklore and legend. Children look forward to his visits, and the story is that he travels the world, visiting all good girls and boys, and leaving them gifts.  Let’s take a look at some of the stories surrounding this symbolic figure.

​The Historic Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th century Greek bishop in a province of the Byzantine Empire. He was devoted to his religion from an early age. When his parents died in an epidemic, he went to be raised by his uncle, the bishop of Patara. The bishop trained the young Nicholas as a liturgical reader and later ordained him as a priest.