The story of Santa Claus is believed to have originated from the real St Nicholas, who was born in Lycia, Greece (now part of southern Turkey) during the third century. St Nicholas was brought up in a devout Christian family. His parents taught him to be generous and to serve others. He had a reputation of secretly giving to the poor, and he was also known for his love for children, and his concern for sailors who often worked under some difficult conditions. Nicholas was persecuted for his faith under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and died on 6 December 343. During the years that followed, many people followed the teachings of St Nicholas, and stories of his incredible generosity and love for children gradually developed into the Santa Claus legend of today. 6 December is celebrated as the festival of St Nicholas. The name Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch form of “Saint Nicholas”. The Dutch in particular are credited with reviving St. Nicholas as the ‘gift bringer’. When the Dutch settled in New York, the tradition came with them. Later, more details were added, particularly with the work of illustrator Thomas Nast, whose work on the Christmas editions of Harper’s Magazine, between the 1860s and 1880s, helped in developing the current image of Santa Claus. The modern, red-suited Santa Claus developed out of a 1931 advertising campaign put on by the Coca Cola Company, in which the jolly old gentleman was dressed in red and white distributes gifts and love to his young admirers on the eve of Christmas.
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