The untold secrets of Santa Claus

Spoiler Alert: Not for children

Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, is a legendary worldwide phenomenon.
His character is said to bring gifts on Christmas Eve to children who are nice, and coal to those who have misbehaved. He accomplishes this all in one night, with the help of elves and flying reindeer who pull his flying sleigh through the air.
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a man named Nicholas, a Christian bishop who helped the needy. One of the most popular stories about his acts of kindness is the story where he helped three poor sisters. He provided them with the money they needed. He became a saint because of his acts of kindness that he gave, expecting nothing in return, according to History.com.
A feast day is celebrated Dec. 6, in honor of the day of his death. This day is considered St. Nicholas Day, and is celebrated by placing stockings or shoes by a door on the night of the holiday.
He made his first appearance in American culture towards the end of the 18th century in New York City. He soon became known as Sinter Klaas, and his popularity grew. He was often mentioned in stories and newspapers as being a generous and overall lovable man. Stores began to advertise Santa as a Christmas tradition, and he became an icon with his red suit.
The legend of Santa Claus still lives on to this day, as he has become a global symbol of Christmas.

Santas Nice and Naughty Lists. Photo courtesy of santasonstopshop.com.

Santa Claus sneaks his way into a house carrying his bag of toys. Photo courtesy of yougov.com.