~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Father Christmas, Pere Noel, Santa Claus, Sinter Klaas, Babbo Natale; just a few of the many names used to describe the part historical, part mythical St Nicholas.
St Nicholas lived in Asia Minor in the 3rd century. He was ordained Bishop of Myra at a young age, making him one of the first in the Christian Church. He spent his life helping the underprivileged and was even imprisoned for a while by the Romans. One story tells of a poor father who couldn't afford a dowry for his three daughters. Nicholas wanted to help but wished to spare humiliating the man with public charity. Instead, he went to the house at night and threw three purses filled with gold through the window.
By 987AD Nicholas' cult had become widespread and he was made patron saint of Russia and Greece, with his feast day on December 6th. He is also known as the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants.
Owing to the legends of his generosity, his being the patron of children, and having a feast day so close to Christmas, it's little wonder that the tradition grew up that he gave Christmas presents to children.
Nicholas was from a Greek family, so his name, in fact, would have been Nikolaos from the elements nikê “victory” and laos “people.” It has many international variations including Nikola (Croatian), Mikulas (Czech), Nikolaj (Danish), Nikolaas, Nicolaas (Dutch), Nigul (Estonian), Niklas (Finnish), Nicolaus (German), Nicklaus (Swiss), Nikolas (Greek), Miklos (Hungarian), Niccolo (Italian), Mikolaj (Polish), Nicolau (Portuguese), Nikolai (Russian), Nicol (Scottish) and Nicolas, Nicolao (Spanish).
For feminine options we can find Nicola, Nichola, Nicole, Nicoline, Nicolina, Nicolette, Nicoletta, Nikoleta, Nika, Nicolasa, Klasina and Colette.
Nicholas has also formed many diminutives around the world: Cai, Claus, Col, Kai, Klaas, Klaes, Klaus, Kolya, Nicca, Nico, Nick, Niek, Niilo, Niko and Nils.
The character we now think of as Father Christmas also has close connections with our Pagan ancestors. The Vikings believed that their chief god Odin would ride through the sky on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir, coming to earth dressed in a hooded cloak at the time of the winter solstice. He brought with him a sack full of gifts and would hand them out to deserving people he visited. Germanic folklore described a dwarf, dressed in a red-hooded cloak and a long white beard, while the Anglo-Saxons welcomed the personification of winter: King Frost or King Winter.
Originally, St Nicholas was depicted in the style of an Eastern Bishop, with short dark hair and beard. Over time his image was superimposed by those of Odin and King Frost, with their long white beards and hooded cloaks. When Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas during the Reformation, the reverence of saints was very much frowned upon. Therefore, St Nicholas became known instead as "Father Christmas" and was kept alive through mummers plays.
It is interesting to note that in Greece, while children do celebrate St Nicholas' Day on December 6th, they open their Christmas presents on January 1st, the feast day of St Basil.
It is actually St Basil, or Agios Vassilis, who is the Greek equivalent to Father Christmas.
