Years ago I saw a Simpson episode, the one where the family watches a Christmas show done by the students of Lisa and Bart's school.
One of the acts showed the diffrent Santa Clauses across the world, in which they presented Saint Nic(olas) as being Santa Claus in the Netherlands (and also Flanders). This not true. While true that Saint Nic passes in early december (6 december so today) does not mean he is a replacement of Santa Claus.
Saint Nic comes every year with his steam boat from Spain to give gifts to good children and punish the bad ones. He is helped by his black petes, persons with black skin, he rides a white horse and has a donkey to carry the gifts.When I was young, it was customary to leave a carrot for the donkey and some sugar lumps for the horse and nicknack cookies for Saint Nic in a shoe.
The real Saint Nic, was a person who lived in 3th century Turkey. He became a saint for rescuing children from a demon (Most likely a pheadophile,slave trader, ect.. (I do not approve of these things but I like to point out the possibilities)). Near the end of his live he setlled in a village in Norhten Italy, which was then part of Spain, hence the assumption he comes from Spain.
Saint Nic come around on december 6th each year, to the children its told cause its his birthday. More is far from true, the original Saint Nic died on a decembe 6th.
The tradition of Saint Nic was established to introduce christianity to the german tribes,it now is a part of the common heritage of the Netherlands and Flanders.
As for Santa Claus, we only got to know him when american culture became predominant and through the Coca-Cola adds.
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