Who is Santa Claus, why does he look like that, and where did he come from?
The original Santa Claus, so to speak, is Saint Nicholas (270-343 AD). He was an early Christian bishop born in Myra, modern-day Turkey, who became famous for working miracles and helping the needy. In the 5th century the Roman Emperor Theodosius II built a church in his honour.One story tells how St Nicholas saved three young women from being forced into prostitution by dropping bags of gold through the windows of their house so that their father could afford a dowry to have them married:And there's another story about a terrible famine, where a butcher captured and killed three young children, planning to sell them off as meat.St Nicholas found the children, pickling in a barrel, and brought them back to life:Every Christian saint has a feast day. In St Nicho...