Christmas celebrations are incomplete without Santa
Claus. It is not that only kids wait and rejoice when Santa comes, but also
adults find everything very enthusiastic and passionate. Santa Claus is well
known as a fat man with white beard and dressed in red suit trimmed with white
fur.
All of us know that Santa Claus brings lots of gifts and
enters only homes of good children. Stories tell that Santa enters into the
house through chimney and drops gifts
into the stockings hanged by children at night. Well, Santa actually has a long
and rich history apart from the stories you hear.
Mythological Story of Santa
Claus
As per mythology Santa Claus is real and there is a true story behind him. Santa Claus or Nicholas
was born to wealthy parents around 2000 years ago. His parents died at a very
early age and he wanted to become a priest. There are stories that tell that
when Nicholas was on a voyage with a priest, his prayers saved lives of crew
and passengers.
When Nicholas became the bishop, he was fearless and worked
in favour of truth and faith. Among the many cultures that Nicholas started,
giving gifts to children when they are sleeping on the eve of Christmas
is being followed even today.
Different Names of Santa Claus
St. Nicholas – St.
Nicholas was born in Patara, known as Turkey today. He gave away all his
money to sick and poor in the country. He became known as the protector of
children and sailors. It is believed that he saved wrongly accused or
persecuted people as well.
Sinter Class – Sinter
Class is the nickname given to St. Nicholas by Dutch. He is defined as the
patron saint of the city in ‘The History of New York’.
Father Christmas
– Father Christmas is popular in England as the person who comes
down into homes through chimney on Christmas eves. He leaves treats, small toys
and presents into the stockings hanged by children during night.
Christkind – In
German Christlike means Christ child and he is believed to be an angel that
went along with St. Nicolas on his assignments. He is believed to bring
presents to good children and is famous in Switzerland
and Germany.
He is sprite-like with blonde hair and has angel wings.
Kris Kringle – Some
people believe that this name is just mispronunciation of Christkind and is
simply a misunderstanding. Another story says that Kris Kringle used to ring
his bell and give gifts, cakes
and nuts to children.
History of Hanging
Stockings
The story of hanging stockings can be traced back to the
time of St. Nicolas. Though there are variations in different cultures, the
idea and intention always remained the same.
Story – There was
a rich nobleman who had three daughters. His wife died and he spent all his
money in grief. One day some villagers were telling this story to the bishop
which Saint Nicholas overheard. He went to the house of the nobleman and
dropped three bags of gold through the chimney. These bags landed into the
stockings of the three girls which were hung by the fireplace to dry. The gold
coins were used as dowry and the girls got married.
The story spread and after that children used to hang
stockings by the fire and pray for the gifts they wanted. They also left some
eatables or return gifts for Nicholas.