In some countries Christmas gifts don't come on Christmas. The holiday is reserved for religious observation and family gatherings. Gifts are given on St. Nicholas Eve.
☙ St. Nicholas and Your Shoes☙ The Traditions of St. Nicholas Day Around the World
☙ Celebrating St. Nicholas in Spain
☙ Why St. Nicholas Puts Candy in Boots
☙ The German St. Nicholas Tradition
The original St. Nicholas was born in Turkey, and reputedly attended the Council of Nicea, growing so angry at a representative who claimed Jesus was not divine that he hit the man and was jailed. He is known for several miracles, including bringing three divinity students back from the dead after they had been pickled and brined by a greedy landlord. He became associated with gift giving due to a kind act: he secretly gave three bags of gold to a poor man with three daughters who needed dowries to be married, else they would have to become prostitutes.
In Holland, St. Nicholas arrives by ship from Spain and has a helper called Black Peter, a Moorish servant. There he is usually portrayed as riding a white horse. In other countries, as in this illustration, he travels with a donkey.
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