Santa Claus
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Santa Claus is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. Christmas elves are said to make the
1881 illustration by Thomas Nast
A 13th-century depiction of Saint Nicholas from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai
The Ghost of Christmas Present as illustrated by John Leech for Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol (1843)
An 1886 depiction of the long-bearded Norse god Odin by Georg von Rosen
Sinterklaas
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Sinterklaas or Sint-Nicolaas is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other Dutch names for the figure include De Sint, De Goede Sint and De Goedheiligman.
Santa Claus
…Christmas literature as "ho, ho, ho!" This image originated in the United States during the 19th century, after Dutch settlers brought the legend of Sinterklaas ("Saint Nicholas") to 17th-century New Amsterdam (present-day New York City). The 1823 American poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", written by an anonymous…
Sinterklaas played by Bram van der Vlugt
A person in costume as the modernized "Sooty Pete" version of Zwarte Piet
Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Piet helpers arriving by steamboat from Spain
Sinterklaas arriving in Groningen in 2015