Does he really live at the North Pole? Is he the Big Boss of a toy factory run by Elves? How does he manage to deliver all those gifts on Xmas night?

The story of Father Christmas or Santa Claus has ancient European roots. St. Nicholas was the inspiration for the modern Santa Claus, a 19th century invention of the United States. But St Nicholas was himself derived from pagan gift givers such as the Roman Befana and the Germanic Berchta and Knecht Ruprecht.

In 9th century England the Saxons honoured King Winter or King Frost. He would be represented by somebody dressed in a fur hat or crown and would visit their firesides. The Saxons believed that by welcoming Winter as a personage or deity the season would be less harsh to them.

With the arrival of the Vikings in England during the 9th and 10th centuries Odin, their chief god, influenced the Winter gift practices. Odin had twelve characters and the one for December was known as Yalka or Jule and his month was called Jultid from which Yuletide derives. The Vikings believed that Odin visited Earth during Jultid on Sleipnir, his eight-legged horse. He would be disguised in a long blue hooded cloak and carrying a staff and a satchel of bread. His companion was either a Raven or Crow. He was said to join groups around their fire and listen to their conversations to see if they were content. He would sometimes leave the bread as a gift at poor homesteads.

Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in Turkey and came from a wealthy family but gave all his money to the poor. Tradition says he became concerned about the welfare of three young women in his parish. Their father was poor and about to deliver them into a life of slavery. This was not uncommon at the time when a young woman's dowry would be used to support her parental family for a time. Saint Nicholas saw what was happening to the three women and he provided a gift of money to relieve their situation.

Some versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw his gift of gold down the chimney. The tradition of hanging up Christmas Stockings comes from this because the gold fell into stockings that were being dried in the fireplace. Others versions say he left the gold by the door or tossed it through the open window.

He died in 340 AD and he became the patron of sailors in peril on the Sea and defender of young children.

The remains of St. Nicholas were taken by soldiers from Turkey to Bari in Italy in the 11th century. A church was built to honour the saint and this became a pilgrimage site for Christians who spread the legend of St. Nicholas. He was known as St Nikolaus in Germany and in Holland as Sinter Klaas. France, Germany and Holland celebrated his feast day on 6 December and gifts were given to children and the poor to commemorate him.

One version of the legend of Sinter Klaas stated that he rode a horse through the skies dressed in Bishop's clothing, (see Odin above). Children in the Netherlands celebrate the legend by filling their shoes with hay and carrots for the horse of Sinter Klass instead of hanging up Christmas Stockings. Another version has him arriving by boat carrying a book that records those children who have been well behaved over the year. The legend says he was sometimes accompanied by Black Peter, an Elf, who whipped naughty children.

There are different flavours of the legend in different countries. In Germany St. Nikolaus has an assistant to carry the gifts for good children and a rod to beat the naughty ones. His name is Knecht Ruprecht, (see above), Pelzebock or Krampus. In Italy there is La Befana, (no doubt an ancestor of the Roman Befana, see above), who is reputed to be a "good witch" who dresses in black and brings gifts to children on the feast of the Epiphany. Italian children leave their shoes out to recieve the gifts. The timing of gift giving is similar in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico and South America where children are given gifts on 6 January to commemorate the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. Puerto Rican children place a small box containing leaves and flowers under their beds as a gift for the Wise Mens' camels.

The legend of Sinter Klaas crossed the Atlantic with 17th century Dutch settlers to New York. In the 1800's the legend evolved replacing Santa's horse with reindeer and sledge, losing Black Peter, (too scary), and embellishing such details as the toy workshop at the North Pole run by Elves. 20th century additions include the appearence of Mrs. Claus, (surely an acknowledgement of the emancipation of Women), and the practice of leaving out small food gifts for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Santa's difficulties must be increasing with the ever expanding world population, fixed Christmas Eve deadline for delivery of presents and an absence of chimneys in many centrally-heated homes. Questions have been raised about his authenticity, like is he real? Or was he just invented by grown ups? Deep questions indeed my friends! But if you're asking me does he exist then I have to say YES... because I've seen him!

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