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The Legends of Santa
Santa’s image is almost universally recognizable as
one of Christianity’s most enduring and popular legends, yet the seemingly timeless
jolly old man with his bag of toys, steering his reindeer and sliding down
chimneys, is a relatively modern image.
The Legends of Santa shows how today’s image of Father
Christmas is a culmination of centuries of history and legend.
The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds
of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born
sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in
modern-day Turkey.
Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas
became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his
inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick.
One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is
that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution
by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married.
Over the course of many years, Nicholas’ popularity
spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors.
His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his
death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky day to make large
purchases or to get married.
Coca Cola Santa |
The Legends of Santa
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