Ho ho ho — Who is Father Christmas?

The man we know as Santa Claus has a history all of his own.

Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red, but a little research shows that his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century.

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and simply “Santa”, is a figure with legendary, historical and folkloric origins who, in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on 24 December, the night before Christmas Day. However, in some European countries children receive their presents on St. Nicholas’ Day, 6 December.

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his pity and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside helping the poor and sick.

His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make large purchases or to get married. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation, when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained a positive reputation, especially in Holland.

In South Africa it seems a bit silly that a man with spectacles—wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots would visit our hot summer continent on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. It seems more likely that he would be a beer bellied Oom Piet with ‘kaki’ shirt and Jean shorts and ‘vellies’. He would also probably drive a Toyota Hilux bakkie with the presents in a Venter trailer, for all those pothole ridden roads in SA. Tracker or a similar locater would also have to be fitted to his vehicle to make sure he can retrieve it when stolen.

So if you believe or don’t believe in the legend of Santa Claus, one thing remains true; Christmas is about sharing time with family and rejoicing in the gift of giving.

Sources: www.history.com.