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YOU may like the fat, happy man who brings presents to kids on Christmas Eve. But do you know why he's called Santa Claus? And why he dresses in red?
Saint Nicholas lived in Myra, in what is now called Turkey (土耳其). He came from a rich family, but he felt sorry for poor people and decided to give them all his money. Nicholas, though, was shy and didn't want people to know he gave them money. So he climbed onto the roofs (屋顶) of houses on Christmas Eve and dropped bags of money down their chimneys. He wore red clothes when he did this. Nicholas died in AD 340. How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Claus? Late in the 11th century a church was built for Saint Nicholas in Italy. People visited the church and took his story back to their own countries. His story developed into that of Santa Claus. But he was given different names around the world. He is called Santa Claus in Canada and the US. But in Britain he is called Father Christmas, in Belgium (比利时) he is called Saint Nicholas, and in the Netherlands (荷兰) he is called Sinterklaas. Saint Nicholas' life is also celebrated in different ways around the world. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas visits children on December 6. He goes to the Netherlands in a ship full of presents. He gives the presents to good children. He then takes all the bad children away with him on his boat! But, no matter what Santa Claus is called around the world, he is always what kids love most about Christmas. |