The origin of Santa Claus

Where does the idea of Santa Claus--otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle-- come from. Santa Claus has a long history Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century, when Saint Nicholas walked the earth and became the patron saint of children. 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 A.D. 280 in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. He was very admired for his piety and kindness and 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.