Name: Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus? - Brusselslife.be
Start: 2013-12-05T00:00:00
End: 2013-12-05T00:00:00

If you’re in Europe in December, you might notice that Santa Claus has to share the stage with a saint - Saint Nicholas! Looks like Santa has some big shoes to fill. Or rather the other way around…

Let’s try to set the record straight.

	Saint Nicholas	Santa Claus
Holiday	December 6^th	December 25th (or the night of the 24^th)
Origin	Based on a historical figure: St. Nicholas was a Bishop of Myra (present-day Turkey) during the 3^rd or 4^th century.	Started most likely from the Dutch settlers in New York in the 1600’s that had this Saint Nicholas tradition strongly in their roots.
History	He became known for his generous character and secretive gift giving. Over time, the stories of his good deeds created great veneration for St. Nicholas in the Christian church, and people mirrored his acts with traditions of giving gifts. St. Nicholas’ day remained a prominent holiday in Europe.	Several notable events: 1823: Clement Moore wrote the popular poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known by the name “The Night Before Christmas.” late 1800’s: Thomas Nast’s drawings bring Moore’s poem to life. Santa is seen with a red suit, a house in the North Pole, elves, a sleigh, reindeer, a Mrs. Claus… 1900’s on: Coca Cola, Macy’s, books, and films helped solidify Santa’s image in American culture
Traditions	Leave your shoes by the fireplace for St. Nicholas to fill (even for several days before too!) Don’t forget a glass of milk for him and a carrot for his donkey! In Belgium, speculoos cookies, mandarins and St. Nicholas shaped chocolate are tucked inside your shoes. For many Belgian children, more toys are given on this day than on the 25th	Stockings are hung over the fireplace to receive goodies from Santa on Christmas Day Leave a glass of milk and a plate of cookies for Santa!

[Thomas Nast's depiction of Santa, 1881]

Saint to Santa?

The name “Santa Claus” is simply a corruption of the Dutch term Sinterklaas, meaning Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus is Père Noël in French, Weihnachtsmannin German, Ded Moroz to the Russians, Babbo Natale in Italy...

Twas the Night Before Christmas…

So it was Clement Moore who initially made Santa “chubby and plump,” not cookies! He also invented his mode of transportation, flying reindeer. The Santa we now all think of is still referred to as St. Nick in this poem…

Intertwined pasts

One’s skinny and holding a staff, the other plump with a sack over his back. In Brussels, the Saint arrives in a steamboat for all to see, while his American buddy prefers nighttime travel a couple of weeks later. Actually in Belgium, there is no Christmastime visitor on the 25th. Same goals, two different guys. But the beard seemed to stick.