The thought of St. Nicolas just came to me as I was listening to the night before Christmas. We use the word Santa Claus here in the United States but it started out differently.
The tradition starts with a man who was a bishop in the 4th Century in modern day Turkey. He was also a wealthy and kind man. There was also, so tradition says, a poor man with 3 daughters who could not marry because he did not have dowry. Supposidly, Nicolas dropped a bag of gold down the chimney and it fell into some stocking that were drying by the chimmney.
St. Nicolas was exiled and put in prison by the Roman Emperor. He died on December 6th.
Now in Germany people still celebrate Nikolastag (St. Nicholas Day). They put a shoe or a plate outside the door for Nikolas to leave goodies.
Here in the USA its started as Kris Kringle and then Dutch Sinterklaas to today's Santa Claus.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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