LEGEND OF SANTA CLAUS

Hundreds of years back, Nicholas was born to a wealthy Christian family in Patara in around 280 AD. The place is near Myra in modern-day Turkey. He was so kind and pious that he helped anyone who came his way and soon many legends about his good deeds became popular. Later, he became the Bishop of Myra.

He had inherited a large property, which he used from time to time to help the poor and the sick. He traveled anonymously in the night to ensure that all of his parishioners are well fed and happy.

During one of his visits, he heard a family lamenting about their misfortunes and poverty and how they were forced to sell the three poor sisters into slavery or prostitution as their father was unable to provide a suitable dowry to them or even provide food and clothes to them. That very night, Nicholas threw three purses of gold secretly into their home from the chimney thus, saving them from shame and distress.

Later, he became more and more popular as the protector and the patron saint of children and sailors.

His feast is celebrated every year on his death anniversary on 6th of December and on this day, it considered lucky day to get married or buy more ad more things.

His popularity kept growing and by the Renaissance, he was the most popular European saint, especially in Holland. Even when Protestants discouraged the veneration of saints, St. Nicholas continued to enjoy his status and positive reputation and remained one with Christmas forever as Santa Claus or Father Christmas.