Traditionally, Christmas Santa Claus

St. Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Saint Nicholas. He was a fourth century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (Demre now), in Lycia, a province of Byzantine Anatolia, now Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous donations to the poor, particularly the presentation of the three poor daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that there would have to become prostitutes.He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany) is still portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical clothes. In 1087, the Italian city of Bari, wanting to enter the profitable pilgrimage industry of the time, mounted an expedition to locate the tomb of the Christian saint and seek his remains. The reliquary of St. Nicholas was desecrated by Italian sailors and the spoils, including the remains, brought to Bari where they remain to this day. A basilica was built the same year, to keep the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for devotees, justifying the economic cost of the expedition. San Nicolas said later as the patron saint of the various groups of archers, sailors, and children pawnbrokers.He is also the patron of both the city and Moscow.Influence Germanic paganism and folklore
A 1886 painting of the indigenous Norse God Odin by Georg von Rosen

Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure of Odin, chief god among the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization. Since many of these elements are not related to Christianity, there are theories about the pagan origin of the rites of the festival is derived from the areas where the Germanic peoples were Christianized and retained elements of their indigenous traditions, surviving in the various ways in modern representations of Santa Claus.


Odin was sometimes recorded in the native Germanic holiday of Yule, as leading a great hunting party through the books sky.Two of Iceland, the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier sources, and the Prose Edda written in the 13 century by Snorri Sturluson, describe Odin as riding an eight-legged horse called Sleipnir that could leap great distances, leading to comparisons to Santa Claus reindeer.Further, Odin was referred to by many names in skaldic poetry, some of which describe his appearance or functions. These include Síðgrani, Síðskeggr, Langbarðr (all meaning "long beard") and Jólnir.
According to some traditions, the children began to put my boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar, near the chimney for Odin's flying horse, Sleipnir, to eat. [Citation needed] Odin then reward the children for their kindness by replacing Sleipnir's food with gifts or candy. This practice still exists in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and was associated with St. Nicholas from the Christianization. In other countries, has been replaced by the hanging of stockings by the fireplace at home.





From pre-Christian traditions of the Alps and the influence of later Christianization, the Krampus is represented as a companion of Saint Nicholas. Traditionally, some young people dressed as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December and in particular on the night of December 5 and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with rusty chains and bells.