In some lands it is the Christ Child who is believed to distribute gifts and blessings, although the name Kris Kringle, a popular variation of the German word "Christkindel" — which means "Christ Child" — is now commonly associated with Santa Claus.

The real prototype of the modern Santa was a fourth-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, St. Nicholas. Little historical information concerning him has been preserved, yet about his name has clung a wonderful world of lore and tradition. Legend tells us that he was a young man of considerable wealth who gave himself to the work of the Lord and generously bestowed his worldly goods upon those whose needs were greater than his own. Usually he preferred to receive no credit for his benevolences, desiring rather to make his visits to the homes of the poor and unfortunate under the cloak of darkness so that no one would know who he was.

This venerated man, we are further told, suffered tortures and imprisonment when the Emperor Diocletian was striving ruthlessly to destroy the Christian faith. During the reign of the Christian emperor, Constantine the Great, St. Nicholas was released, and he later is said to have attended the important Council of Nicaea.

St. Nicholas has long been associated particularly with the interests of scholars, mariners, and especially children. He is the patron saint of Greece and Russia. Centuries ago, December 6 was designated as the day when he should be honored. The proximity of his day to the birthday of our Lord made him an obvious representative of the charitable character of Christmas. In colonial America the Dutch name Sant Nikolaas was mispronounced as Santa Claus. It is by this name that St. Nicholas is best remembered.