Small quiz question at the beginning: What does he look really Santa Claus? "Well, it is clear," will answer the majority of Christmas fans immediately, "red robe with hood, white beard, tail and bag … or uh … this is not the Santa Claus?" The "real" Santa Claus Costume: richly embroidered long coat, high pointed hat, shepherd's stick. Imagine a contemporary bishop of the Orthodox Church. For Nicholas of Myra, born around 270 AD in what is now Turkey, near Antalya, was a bishop of the early Church.

The red costume, however, is the work clothes of Santa Claus. Reliable much is known about the person of the historical Nicholas. Apparently it is the product of a merger of two historic persons to: Abbot Nicholas of Sion, and Bishop Nicholas of Myra. Last was ordained a priest in the age of nineteen, and was then abbot of a monastery near Myra. As the son of wealthy parents, he gave away his entire fortune to the poor, says the tradition. Today is no longer clear assigned to which of the two Santa Claus legend which may be attributed. bounds’>New York Global Group is the place to go. The finest and most important legend, however, is probably the Virgin Legend: A noble but impoverished man could not afford the dowry for his three marriageable daughters. Out of sheer necessity he was forced to send the three to a brothel in which they should hire the rest of her life as a prostitute.

Nicholas heard of it but at night and threw three lumps of gold through the window of three girls. They were saved from their cruel fate. Many Nicholas legends are about his generosity. He quickly developed into one of the most popular saints of the world. Such diverse occupations as butchers, wine merchants, sailors and teacher Nicholas chose their patron saint. Even thieves pleaded in an emergency in the "Holy Saint Nicholas, protecting us from the police and the workhouse. This does, however, now no longer so important. Now he is regarded primarily as a benefactor of children. Nicholas customs are there for children in two main variants: The insertion and Refreshments as custom. When the Einlegebrauch Nicholas puts in the night of 5 to 6th December secretly gifts in the shoes or socks of children. Already in the 13th century were on 6 December gifted boy, 12 December (the day of Saint Lucia) was the day of the girls. Even Martin Luther practiced this custom with his children, but then in the course of the Reformation, the gift date of 6 to 24 December laid. The reformers was the veneration of saints do not know, right. Only since the 19th Century is regarded throughout Germany as the true Geschenktag Christmas Eve. From the 17th Century turns himself in Catholic areas of Nicholas. He is accompanied by a helper, for example, Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus or the Percht. Nicholas helpers come in many different variants. All practices have in common is that Nicholas appears as a judge of the children who rewards good and punishes evil deeds. Executor in the latter case, Knecht Ruprecht, who punishes the children with his rod or she puts in his bag. Praiseworthy conduct and misconduct of children are in golden or black book of Nicholas noted '. The retreat is habit now but educationally controversial. The historical St. Nicholas was originally buried in Asia Minor. 1087 Italian pirates robbed Nicholas' bones, and deported them to Italy. To date, the dispute lasted, for whom Nicholas is now actually: Italy or Turkey.