Every year on December 6, children wait excitedly for a visit from Santa Claus and what he will put in their polished shoes. But who was the man behind this popular tradition really? Unlike the fairytale Santa Claus, St. Nicholas of Myra was a historically documented figure whose acts of charity have endured through the centuries.

The most famous story about St. Nicholas explains why we receive gifts in secret on December 6: Nicholas was still a boy when both his parents died through illness. His parents left him riches, but they did not make him happy. He only became happy by helping other people and giving away some of his wealth and decided to give away everything he owned to the poor and set off on a pilgrimage. Nicholas often suffered great hardship on his pilgrimage, but remained happy. When he returned home, the Bishop of Myra had died shortly before. He introduced himself as Nicholas, a servant of Christ, and was elected bishop. Nicholas continued to do good and gave gifts to the poor. Wearing his red bishop's robe with pockets, he collected nuts and apples and filled sacks with apples, mandarins and honey cakes, loaded his donkey and gave gifts to the poor. Nicholas of Myra died on December 6, 352 and the tradition of St. Nicholas still lives on in parts of Europe today.

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