Abriefhistoryoftheholiday

　　ThefirsttimethebirthofJesusChristwasattributedtothedateDecember25wasinthe4thcentury,accordingtoearlyRomanhistory.EarlycelebrationsofChristmasarethoughttohavederivedfromRomanandotherEuropeanfestivalsthatmarkedtheendoftheharvest,andthewintersolstice.

　　Somecustomsfromthosecelebrationsthathaveenduredincludedecoratinghomeswithgreenery,givinggifts,singingsongs,andeatingspecialfoods.

　　TheholidaydevelopedfurtherwiththelegendofSt.Nicholas.Althoughmuchofhishistoryisunconfirmed,themanwhobecameSt.Nicholaslivedinthe4thcenturyandisbelievedtohavebeenabishopinAsiaMinor.

　　Manymiraclesattributedtohimaredubiousatbest.Nevertheless,somecountriesnamedhimtheirpatronsaint.Healsoisconsideredthepatronsaintof,amongothers,children(forprotectingthem),sailors(whomhereputedlysavedatsea),andthepoor(towhomhegenerouslygavegifts).

　　Inhishonor,theFeastofSt.NicholaswasmarkedonDecember6andgiftsgiventhenightbefore.ThetraditionwaswellestablishedinmanyEuropeancountriesbythe12thcentury.Eventually,becauseSt.Nicholas'DayandChristmasDayaresoclosetogether,theirtraditionsgenerallywerecombined.

　　St.Nicholastookondifferentpersonasindifferentcountries.Forexample,TheNetherlandshaveSinterKlaas;FatherChristmasgivesgiftsinGreatBritain;PèreNoëldoesthesameinFrance;andinGermanySt.NicholashashadmanynamesincludingKlaasbuur,Burklaas,Rauklas,Bullerklaas,andSunnercla,althoughFatherChristmasisbecomingmorepopular.IntheUnitedStates,theDutchsettlers'SinterKlaasevolvedintoSantaClaus.