Xmas
Countdown: December 19, 6 days to go! A number of figures are
associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among these
are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus (derived from the Dutch
for Saint Nicholas), Père Noël, and the Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas
or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki; Babbo Natale;
Saint Basil; and Father Frost.
The best known
of these figures today is red-dressed Santa Claus, of diverse origins.
The name Santa Claus can be traced back to the Dutch Sinterklaas, which
means simply Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in modern-day
Turkey, during the 4th century. Among other saintly attributes, he was
noted for the care of children, generosity, and the giving of gifts. His
feast on December 6 came to be celebrated in many countries with the
giving of gift
Christmas Countdown: 6 days to go! "Christmas,
my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give,
it's Christmas." Dale Evans
