Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint Nicholas, Saint, patron of children and sailors, of Greece, Sicily, and Russia, and of many other places and persons. Little is known of him, but he is traditionally identified as a 4th-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor.
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(flourished 4th century, Myra, Lycia, Asia Minor; feast day December 6) Minor saint associated with Christmas. Probably bishop of Myra, he is reputed to have provided dowries for three poor girls to save them from prostitution and to have restored to life three children who had been chopped up by a butcher. He became the patron saint of Russia and Greece, of charitable fraternities and guilds, and of children, sailors, unmarried girls, merchants, and pawnbrokers. After the Reformation his cult disappeared in all the Protestant countries of Europe except Holland, where he was known as Sinterklaas. Dutch colonists brought the tradition to New Amsterdam (now New York City), and English-speaking Americans adopted him as Santa Claus, who is believed to live at the North Pole and to bring gifts to children at Christmas.
Santa Claus
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Nicholas, Saint
or Santa Claus)
Merry Old Santa Claus by Thomas Nast.
(credit: Bettmann/Corbis)
Santa Claus
the legendary patron saint of children, commonly identified with Saint Nicholas, who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve or, in some European countries, on Saint Nicholas' Day
Santa Claus
jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937]
See : Christmas
Santa Claus
gives gifts to children on Christmas. [Folklore: Walsh Classical, 50]
See : Generosity
Santa Claus
ho-ho-hoing merry gift-giver at Christmas. [Am. Pop. Cult.: Misc.]
See : Joviality
Santa Claus
he knows who has been bad or good. [Western Folklore: Misc.]
See : Omniscience
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