What is the difference between Nikolaus and Santa Claus?

Saint Nicholas as we are well aware lived from 15 March 270 through 6 December 343 in what is now modern Turkey. As a result of the many miracles attributed to him personally, he became known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. read more

Santa Claus belongs to childhood; St. Nicholas models for all of life. Santa Claus, as we know him, developed to boost Christmas sales—the commercial Christmas message; St. Nicholas told the story of Christ and peace, goodwill toward all—the hope-filled Christmas message. read more

Saint Nicholas was a Bishop who lived during the fourth century A.D. in the city of Myra, located in what is now present-day Turkey. Santa Claus is a fictional character that is based largely on the stories of Saint Nicholas. read more

Santa Claus is an amalgamation of several Christmastime gift-givers from different European cultures (England’s Father Christmas, France’s Pere Noel, Holland’s Sinterklaas, Germany’s Kristkindel [Americanized into Kris Kringle], etc.), with a lot of American add-ons, mostly courtesy of Thomas Nast and Clement Clark Moore. read more