Known as Santa Claus, Pere Noel, Santa Clos, and others, thos mythical figure was born as a transformation through time of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Turkey).  Saint Nicholas was a bishop who lived in the IVth Century.  Kind and generous with children and the needy, he became the patron saint of orphans, sailors, students, loaners and thieves.  His legend  teaches us that he rewarded the good and punished the bad.

In some Northic countries they still celebrate December 6 as St. Nicholas Day.  It is usual for someone dressed in the robes of a medieval bishop to visit homes rewarding good children with candy and giving the naughty a sack of coal.

After the Protestant reform in the XVIth Century, saints were cancelled in the new protestant religion but the legend of Saint Nicholas persisted and marked the beginning of the Christmas Season.  When some Dutch immigrants arrived in the United States they brought with them this tradition and called him Sinterklaas which became Santa Claus.

In 1822 Dr. Clement Clarke Moore wrote “The Night Before Christmas” giving Santa Claus a new arctic image by mentioning sleigh and reindeer.  But, it was Thomas Nast who in 1863 illustrated Moore´s story and gave us a more human Santa Claus, dressed him in red and gave him a home in the North Pole.

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom (1899-1976) American artist added the final touches to Santa Claus by making him like a kind grandfather when he made the drawings for the Coca Cola Co. adds which are still seen to this day.

In our Hispanic countries many children expect the baby Jesus to bring to bring them their toys on December 25 while others get their presents from the 3 Wise Kings on January 6; but regardless of who brings the toys, they all know and love Santa Claus.

A lot has been speculated about the beginning of Christmas Trees, but it is undeniable that for many centuries man has used trees and branches for his ceremonies.  At the end of December Egiptians brought palms to improve next year´s harvest; Romans cut branches and decorated them with images of the Sun God.  But the Druids were the ones who during the Winter Solstice hung apples and lit candles on Oak trees making them the most alike to our Christmas Trees.

The tradition of decorating a tree for Christmas began 400 years ago and spread through Europe during the XIXth Century.  In 1825 an American newspaper mentioned the trees decorated by German immigrants during the Christmas Season.

In 1842 Charles Minnegero introduced this tradition in Williamsburg, Virginia.  His Christmas Tree was decorated with lit candles and wrapped with popcorn strings.  It was in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge established the tradition of lighting a Christmas Tree in the lawn of the White House.

We have now discovered may ways to dress a Christmas Tree with toys, ribbons, cookies, candy canes and many, many more.  It´s fun to be creative as well as to see what others have done.

There is no nicer feeling during the Christmas Season than to go through the streets  seeing through the windows of homes and  stores, on gardens, lawns and public places the beautiful, colorful, traditional Christmas Trees.