The Meaning of Santa Claus

Santa Claus
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Santa Claus.
Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary gift-giving icon who distributes presents to sleeping children and adults who have been "good" all year; traditionally during the night of December 24, Christmas Eve. The popular American form Santa Claus originated as a mispronunciation of Dutch Sinterklaas, which is a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas (Saint Nicholas).
Father Christmas is a well-loved figure in many countries and predates the Santa Claus character. Father Christmas is similar in many ways, though the two have quite different origins. Using Santa in places that predominantly call him Father Christmas may be viewed as an Americanism, although they are generally regarded as the same character. Father Christmas (and in some cases baby Jesus) is also present instead of Santa in Afghanistan ("Baba Chaghaloo"), Albania ("Babadimri"), Armenia ("Gaghant Baba"), Brazil ("Papai Noel"), Bulgaria ("Dyado Koleda"), Chile (Viejo Pascuero), Denmark ("Julemanden"), Egypt ("Papa Noël"), Finland ("Joulupukki"), France and French Canada ("le Père Noël"), Germany ("Weihnachtsmann" or "Nikolaus"),Greece "Άγιος Βασίλης-Άyos Vasílis" Hungary ("Mikulás"), Iran ("Baba Noel"), Ireland ("Daidí na Nollag"), Italy ("Babbo Natale"), Latvia ("Ziemassvētku vecītis"), Lithuania ("Kalėdų Senelis"), Malta ("San Niklaw"), Mexico ("El Niñito Dios" ("Child God", meaning Jesus)), Norway ("Julenissen"), Poland ("Święty Mikołaj"), Portugal ("Pai Natal"), Romania ("Moş Crăciun"), Russia ("Ded Moroz"), Scottish Highlands ("Daidaín na Nollaig"), Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Deda Mraz"), South Africa ("Vader Kersfees"), Spain and some of Spanish-speaking Latin America ("Papá Noel" or "San Nicolás" or "Santa Claus" ), Sweden ("Jultomten"), Turkey ("Noel Baba"), and the United Kingdom ("Father Christmas").

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Christmas the Celebration

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth changed the whole world. Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem in Israel over 2,000 years ago; His mother was the virgin Mary. When He was born, an angel proclaimed to shepherds in the field "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

When Jesus was born, some people welcomed Him; some ignored Him; and some rejected Him. There was no room for Him at the inn in Bethlehem, so the Son of God was laid in a manger where animals stayed. Even today, some people welcome Christ and some ignore or reject Him. Jesus came to earth to be our Savior and to die to pay the penalty for our sins. Here is how you can welcome Christ as your Lord and Savior into your life.