The answer to how 'St Nicholas' became Santa Claus

With tens of thousands of pilgrims flocking to see and worship the tomb of the famous St Nicholas, in the Crypt. (Now being referred to as "The Saint of Children") celebrations and festivities would mark the 'apparent' day that he passed away, commonly reported to be 6Th December. Places of worship around the world would also remember this man who sacrificed his own inherited wealth and gave anonymously and freely to all the children where he preached.

And so with the St Nicholas legacy now spreading from continent to continent, many interpretations of St Nicholas started to appear among the many different languages. People often referred to St Nicholas as 'Christ Kindle' or Kris Kringle while the Dutch called him 'Sinter Klaas'. However with story such as St Nicholas, being passed from century to century, you may start to understand how names change as languages change, and stories get diluted, and diluted.

From the 4th Century the myths and legends of St Nicholas were extremely popular right through to the 16th Century until popularity stared to diminish. It was with the immigration of the Germans & the Dutch to the America's who carried on the Festive Spirit of St Nicholas in the 18th Century, and so came spreading the word of the myths and legends that came with the famous Saint.

So Kris Kringle and 'Sinter klaas was now populating in America throughout the Christian and Catholic Churches and with the advent of the radio, and television in the 1920's caricature's of Kris Kringle now started to appear. It was the 19th Century writers and artists that gave St Nicholas the look that we are so familiar with now, the Big Red Robe, Jolly and fat. A very pleasing and loveable character that truly predicted what would sell on screen, in newspaper adverts and in theatre.

By now, Sinter Klaas was now being referred to as 'Santa Claus' and is the name most popular with people in English speak Country's. St Nichols is also referred to as 'Father Christmas' in the United Kingdom which also translates in French to 'Pier Noel', and in Turkey he is also known as 'Noel Baba'.

So that's our short rendition of how we have become to know the once famous Bishop of Meyer, aka 'St Nicholas' as Santa Claus and Father Christmas!