2. From Saint Nick to Santa
In some ways, Santa Claus has come to resemble God. Santa knows who has been naughty or nice, and rewards us accordingly with either goodies in our stockings, or a lump of coal. Every Christmas, children, and many adults, grow giddy with anticipation and thoughts of what Santa has in store for them. As seen above, the real Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa, was a bit of a badass, and could even be a violent bully on occasion. So how did he morph from a guy who punches people in the face to settle debates, into the lovable Santa Claus?
The American version of Santa became the globally dominant depiction of the legend, of a fat, jolly, and bearded grandfatherly figure. Like many things American, it resulted from a cultural melting pot in which folklore from various people was melded. As a result, Santa as we know him today is a blend of various inputs that originated in western Christian culture. From English folklore are drawn aspects of Father Christmas, the gift giver. From Dutch folklore, there is Sinterklaas, whose feast occurs in early December. For good measure, there is even a touch of the ancient Germanic god Odin, who is associated with the pagan midwinter festival of Yule. However, the chief figure behind Santa is Saint Nicholas, the fourth century AD Greek bishop of Myra.
