Did Santa Claus ever really exist?

Santa Claus is the Dutch word for Saint Nicholas, or Father Christmas. Although, he really does exist in the hearts of all good people around the world. From a legend viewpoint, though, here's the article about Saint Nicholas:Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is a mythical, historical and legendary figure in folklore who, in Western cultures, is described as bringing gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day1, or on his feast day, December 6.2 The legend may have its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.

The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly man (or elf) wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black leather belt and boots, became popular in the United States in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast.3 This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is commonly called Father Christmas. One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow.

The American version of Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, while Father Christmas is said to reside in Finland. Other details include: he is married and lives with Mrs. Claus; that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior; that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other presents to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal or sticks to the naughty children, in one night; and that he accomplishes this feat with the aid of magical elves who make the toys, and nine flying reindeer who pull his sleigh.45OriginsEarly Christian origins A medieval fresco depicting St Nicholas from the Boyana Church, near Sofia, BulgariaSaint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th century Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey.

Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany) he is still portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes.

The relics of St. Nicholas were transported to Bari in southern Italy by some enterprising Italian merchants;8 a basilica was constructed in 1087 to house them and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout. Saint Nicholas became claimed as a patron saint of many diverse groups, from archers and children to pawnbrokers9. He is also the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow.10.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_claus .

Santa Claus has a variety of different names in different languages, but they all refer to the person of... ...St. Nicholas who was born many centuries ago in the 4th century (born c 245 AD, and died c350 AD, various sources list various dates) in Lycia, Anatolia, a province on the southwest coast of Asia Minor (present day Turkey). He was born in Patara, a seaport, and traveled. St. Nicholas became a bishop of the church at Myra.

Few documents exist which mention him, however legends of his generosity exist throughout most churches. Thousands of churches in the Middle Ages were dedicated to him. St. Nicholas performed a number of miracles, all associated with gift giving.

S feast day was December 6, so think of St. Nicholas on December 6th and 9.980. In 1823, Clement C. Moore wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas’, which showed Santa Claus driving a sleight drawn by "eight tiny reindeer" and in doing so he created an image we all have today.

Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus based on Moore’s description cementing in this image. There are many legends of St. Nicholas, but this is the most famous legend and it includes elements of today’s Santa: A nobleman who lived with his three daughters had fallen on hard times. The daughters had no chance of marriage, since their father could not pay their dowries.

One night, St. Nicholas threw a sack of gold through a window of the nobleman’s shabby castle, which was enough for one daughter’s marriage. The next night, he tossed another sack of gold through the window for the second daughter. But on the third night, the window was closed.So, St. Nicholas climbed onto the roof and dropped the sack down the chimney.

The next morning, the daughters found the gold in the stockings they had hung to dry by the fireplace. Hence leaving the stockings out for Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia, of children, and of sailors.

He also has been patron saint of Moscow, Greece, prisoners, bakers, pawnbrokers, shopkeepers and wolves. So, Yes Nina, there was a "Santa Claus". :) Sources: http://www.santaclaus.com/santa-claus-christmas-faq.php curiouskitty's Recommendations I Am Santa Claus Amazon List Price: $9.98 Used from: $5.72 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 18 reviews) The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Amazon List Price: $14.98 Used from: $19.67 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 16 reviews) Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus Amazon List Price: $9.95 Used from: $3.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 3 reviews) .

As a jolly fat man who gave toys to all; no. However, Santa Claus is named for Saint Nicholas, who was said to have been generous to those in need. stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23" rel="nofollow">stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 One story tells of a poor man with three daughters.In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry.

The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery.

Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.

Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

(quoted from the website) Sources: stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23" rel="nofollow">stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 .

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Where can I buy the dvd I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

If you believe in the communion of saints, then there may really be a Santa Claus. How about that?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.