Today is Monday, December 24th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1216

Tomorrow is Christmas, so today is the evening when Santa comes to town!
 
What about this guy known as Santa Claus? Fact or fiction?
 
Researched from a couple of internet pieces:
 
"In looking for the historical roots of Santa Claus, one must go deep in the past. Santa, as we know him is a combination of truths, different legends, and mythical creatures.
 
"Father Christmas (Santa Claus or Sinterklaas) is based on a historical figure known as Saint Nicholas, who was born in 270 AD. He was the bishop of Smyrna, in what is now Turkey; was clad in red and white bishops' robes and rode a donkey; spent time bestowing gifts on children; and became the patron saint of children (thus Saint Nicholas). When he died on December 6, 310, it became the day to give gifts, especially to chldren.
 
"In the Protestant areas of central and northern Germany, St. Nicholas later became know as der Weinachtsmann. In England, he came to be called Father Christmas. St. Nicholas made his way to the United States with Dutch immigrants, and began to be referred to as Santa Claus.
 
" The Dutch-American Saint Nick achieved his fully Americanized form in 1823 in the poem 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas', more commonly known as 'The Night Before Christmas' by writer Clement Clarke Moore. Moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; Santa Claus' laughs, winks, and nods; and the method by which Saint Nicholas, referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney.
 
"Over the centuries, customs from different parts of the Northern Hemisphere thus came together and created the whole world's Santa Claus - the ageless, timeless, white-bearded man who gives out gifts on Christmas."
 
~~~
 
Christmas gift giving began because God gave us His Son Jesus. When we receive his gift, we want to return the favor, in a small part, and give gifts to others. Not only at Christmas time, but throughout the whole year.
 
"Thank you, Father God, for the Gift of Your Son, Jesus! Thank you for love that you lavish upon each of us because you are the giver of life and every good and perfect thing! We love you for that kind of love and care! Happy birthday, Jesus! Amen."

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