Santa Claus (Mikulás)
 

In Hungary and some other countries 5th December night and 6th December morning is the night of Santa Claus (in Hungary call Mikulás).

Santa Claus was a bishop and he was famous about his gifts. His body is sleeping in Myra, Turkey. He started his gifting trip tonight and in Hungary the children get chocolate Santa Claus in the morning. We have to clean our boots, put it to the window and we get choclate Santa Claus and sometimes birch by buffer (what is elfin in West or US). Buffers (or elfins) were dirty children next to the bishop. They helped him to collect and to present gifts. Children get birch for that they should be better in the next year... (This date is not so far from the Lutheran new year)

Santa Claus has never worn red clothes. That's only 50 years old business step by Coca-Cola. Santa Claus was a bishop, and bishops wear purple mantle... (Milka yeahhh)

This is the legend of Santa Claus.

(In Hungary in Chritmas Eve the presents are not got by Santa Claus. The Little Jesus brings for us!)

He was Santa Claus:

http://www.saint-nick.com/images/xmas_santa01lg.jpg

And this is the original clothes (mantle) of a bishop. Well... Coca-Cola Santa Claus is a lie! :)

http://www.parra.catholic.org.au/Bis...Manning-33.jpg

that's a nice theory. thanks for sharing. I've heard other theories, equally as convincing. I guess it comes down to personal beliefs.

Nono... he was a historical person. His grave is in Myra (Demre) in South Turkey...

yeah, and I believe you. it's just that there are other (numerous) theories about when and where Santa (Father Mick Mack, or whatever else people want to call him) originated. it really does come down to your particular beliefs.

maybe there is more than one jolly fellow?

Santa Claus is knocking on my window... I have to go. :D

I think the story depends on which country you live in.

I have this in my religion notes, dunno why though, Nicholas of Myra, its true. I think i just seen cobwebs when i opened my notes there... not a good sign

I got lot of choclates... hippiájjé!!!! And orange and nuts and... uuuuhhh... it's hard... szaloncukor... fondant? :)

;) And your spiritual belief system which is not necessarily limited to just one country/zone. ;)

I think every country has their own stories/legends/myths about Santa Claus...

We call Santa Claus Father Frost...or...Ded Moroz..

Well he's just Saint Nicholas over here

There can be any legends but Saint Nicholas was a bishop...

We have the same in Holland. Sint Nicolaas and it is also on December 5th. It is about the same bisshop who is burried in Myra.
The dirty children you mention is put in another way; black pete.
They are the ones helping out Sint Nicolaas with presenting the gifts here.
And also the same you mention; chocolate is one of the main presents you receive in your shoe.
But the red robe you mention is how he is dressed here.

http://www.rug.nl/let/_shared/image/...interklaas.jpg

The coca-cola idea of making him red is one of the biggest misconceptions of our times.

Coca Cola played no role in that. He was drawn like that in illustrations of the american media some 10 years before coke first used him in their advertising. it is merely the fact that they made the image well known makes people think they made him red.

Our Santa Claus is actually seldom or never dressed in red.

Usually midnight blue robe decorated with stars or silver one.

More like a wizard than a saint I guess...

http://media.mlxxfc.net/morozko.jpg

Our santa claus looks awfully like my daddy.

And, if you promise not to tell anyone, I once saw Mommy kissing him.

OK...I promise...shhhhh...:oops:

I thought you're going to post the picture...:D

In Russia there's another name of Santa Claus, yep? There was a communist affect in Russia and Hungary too... maybe he is Winter Dad... or no?

Father Frost...or Ded Moroz...BUT...nothing to do with Communists...more with Russian folklore...

Christmas, however, and Christmas tree became respectively New Year and New Year's tree...one of those things...that communists did.

Still and all...the spirit was the same...just at a little different time.

Russian Orthodox Christmas falls anyway about 3 weeks after Christmas here - middle of January...