Santa Claus is someone who will remain in the heartsof children forever. He is the make-believe personwho brings toys and other gifts to children atChristmas.
To grown-ups, he is a special symbol of goodwilland selfless giving. Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, KrisKringle, Pelznickel.
Two of his names -- Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas -- both come from the Dutch who settledin New York long ago. The Dutch believed Saint Nikolas gave gifts to children. They honored thiskindly saint with a yearly festival on December sixth.
The English-speaking people who lived nearby greatly enjoyed Dutch festivals. And theybrought the saint and the custom of giving gifts into their own celebration at Christmas time.The Dutch spoke the name "Saint Nikolaas" very fast. It sounded like "sinterklaas." And so,when the English said this word, it sounded like Santa Claus.
West of New York, in Pennsylvania, many German farmers had also heard of Saint Nikolas. Butthey called him Pelznickel. This word came from "pelz," meaning fur, and "nickel" for Nicholas.And so, to the Germans of Pennsylvania, Saint Nicholas or Pelznickel was a man dressed in furwho came once a year with gifts for good children.
Soon, people began to feel that the love and kindness Pelznickel brought should be part of acelebration honoring the Christkindl, as the Germans called the Christ child. After a time, thisbecame Kris Kringle. Later, Kris Kringle became another name for Santa Claus himself.
Whatever he is called, he is still the same short, fat, jolly old man with a long beard, wearing ared suit with white fur.
