Happy "Santa Claus" Day

Today is the 6th of December. Children in many European countries receive presents on this very special day. And who delivers these presents? The Dutch call him Sinterklaas, the Polish Święty Mikołaj, the Austrians and Germans Sankt Nikolaus. The legend reaches as far back as the third century when Nikolaos of Myra, a Greek bishop, got himself the reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him. He is also said to have worked many miracles and is thusly known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker, or more commonly as St. Nicholas.

He is one of the most famous saints and patrons of the eastern and latin church. As he died on the 6th of December, this day is celebrated in his remembrance.

He is, however, not Santa Claus. If all, Santa Claus is him.

Santa Claus as we know him today has not even existed for a century - he was created in 1935 by Coca-Cola.

This Santa was life-sized, jolly, and wore the now familiar red suit. He appeared in magazines, on billboards, and shop counters and was, by the 1950s, turning up everywhere as a kind, benevolent and utterly successful commercial tool.

This led to the North American Santa Claus being exported around the world where he threatens to overcome the European St. Nicholas. And definitely confuses people as to what St. Nicholas looks like.

"This better be some beer!"

The teacher in the Polish kindergarten I was working in always referred to St. Nicholas as Santa Claus and would tell me how in Poland, “the Santa Claus comes on the 6th of December and brings the children prezenty”, and when he did come, he looked like the perfect Coca-Cola Santa Claus, but not at all like a Bishop. Which I think is sad, because I remember being excited about both Christmas and St. Nicholas’ Day, and how great it is to have two different occasions in one month where you get presents from two different..old men (in retrospect, it is kind of weird).

I hope you have a nice day and some presents, brought to you by the best Santa Claus there is - yourself! I bought myself some chocolate and beer, all I could ever wish for.