Jolly old St. Nicholas

December 6th is always St. Nicholas Day in honor of the Christian saint. Nicholas lived in Greece, a couple hundred years after the birth of Christ. When he became a priest he gave up all his personal belongings and was known for giving to needy people, especially children. As the ancient legend goes, Saint Nicholas threw small bags of gold coins into the open windows of poor homes. After one bag of gold fell into the stocking of a child, news got around. Children soon began hanging their stocking by their chimneys in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. If you can't get enough, the information-packed  St. Nicholas Center website has all the details on his life and the evolution of Santa Claus. Here's some vintage images of St. Nick from all around the world. 

Austria

Belgium

Czechoslovakia

Dutch

Slovakia

France

Swiss

Hungary

Poland

Italian

Victorian England

America