In the whole world, there is no character more adored and expected by children than Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus, he is Babo Natal, St. Nikolaus or Pierre Noel. He has many images and names, which are most often pronounced on New Year's Eve, not only by children, but also by adults who piously believe in the magic of this holiday.
The image of a plump white-bearded old man in a red coat riding a sleigh on New Year's Eve has taken root in the minds of many people from early childhood. Everyone knows his habit of sneaking into the houses of obedient children at night through the chimney or window and leaving gif.webpts under the tree or in socks prepared in advance. But few people thought about where this cheerful, kind fat man came from.
The story of a good priest
It turns out that the prototype of the modern Santa was the priest Nicholas from Myra (Turkey), who lived in the fourth century AD. He became famous for his boundless generosity and love for children and the disadvantaged. Nicholas threw gif.webpts for children from poor families through the window and was moved by the delight in which the kids came from new toys.
The priest devoted his whole life to charity and patronage over the poor. Hence, another legend arose about three unmarried women who were so poor that they could not afford to collect a dowry for a wedding. Then Nicholas secretly threw a bag of gold to them at night, hoping to help them find their happiness. Not believing his eyes, the father of the brides decided to trace where the wonderful gif.webpts came from, but Nikolai turned out to be more cunning, and threw the third bag through the chimney.
Unfortunately, he never managed to keep his generosity a secret and everyone learned about the origin of unexpected wealth. Since then, even after the death of the priest, people continue to anonymously give gif.webpts to the poor, hiding behind the name of Nicholas, and in some countries he was even elevated to a number of saints.
Thus, in Greece and Italy, Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and fishermen, and in Greek folklore he was even called "the patron saint of the seas." In many modern European countries, the day of this saint is celebrated on December 6, and on December 19, after the visit of Prince Vladimir to Constantinople. Stories about Nicholas spread all the way to Lapland, which later became the residence of Klaus. The name eventually transformed from the Dutch Sint Nikolaas to Sinter Claas, and, reaching the shores of America, established itself as Santa Claus.
Modern Santa enchants young children with its mystery and omnipresence - how can you manage to visit millions of kids around the world in one night, and even know who behaved like this throughout the year? The essence of Santa is perceived by everyone in the same way, only his attributes and images change, which are added or removed in each country depending on their internal traditions.
What does Santa Claus look like in different countries?
So in America, Santa Claus, imported from Denmark, transformed from a strict priest into a cheerful old gnome. In American lands, the saint turned into a plump, playful old man, bringing gif.webpts on New Year's Eve. Ruddy from the cold, tipsy, in a red suit and with a bag full of gif.webpts behind his back - a typical Santa image for all Americans.
In Germany, children are waiting for Nikolaus, leaving their shoes near the front door before going to bed and inviting the saint to visit. Obedient kids in the morning find gif.webpts in their shoes, and those who did not listen to their parents receive coals instead of sweets and toys.
Swedish children on New Year's Eve are looking forward to Yultomten, a fabulous gnome on a goat sled, and in Denmark they order gif.webpts for Yulemanden. He also introduces himself with a sack on his back, but in a harness with deer and elf henchmen, for whom the kids leave a saucer of milk or rice pudding.
In the Netherlands, Sinter Klaas appears in a red bishop's robe, galloping on New Year's Eve on the roofs of houses, accompanied by little helpers in colorful clothes. As a gif.webpt, he brings a chocolate letter with which the child's name begins, a Sinter Claas chocolate figurine, and multi-colored marzipan in the shape of a fruit or an animal.
In Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, traditionally, the Three Kings make gif.webpts to children; in Russia, it is Santa Claus, to whom his granddaughter Snegurochka is attached.
The image of Santa Claus, which has undergone many changes, today has even acquired some commercial significance. Nevertheless, in the minds of millions of people, it will always be associated with New Year's magic and the mystery of ancient traditions.
