THE RED COSTUME OF SANTA CLAUS-by Leticia Catasús

The Red costume of Santa Claus

Most of people think that Santa Claus was created by Coca-Cola Company; they don’t know that Santa Claus has existed since the IV century.

He was born in Turkey, in a wealthy family. Since his childhood Nicolas stood out for his helpful, kindness and his generosity. When he was 19 years old his parents died of the plague. He decided to give all the money he received to the poorest people and then he went to Mira (Turkey) with his uncle to become a priest.

There he was noted bishop and patron saint of Turkey, Greece and Russia.

Saint Nicolas died the 6^th of December in 345. This date is quite near Christmas so people thought that he was the perfect leading figure to give presents and candies to children.

In the XII century this tradition was extended all over Europe by Dutch emigrants and then to the USA, where you can put biscuits with milk and candies for Santa in Christmas Eve.

Santa had always been wearing green clothes, like an elf, and a brown sac. In 1931 Coca-Cola changed the green of his clothes to red in an advertisement. Red is the colour of coke, as we all know.

And this is how traditional Santa Claus became into the modern Santa Claus, fat and dressed in red. And this is the Santa Claus we know in Spain and in the rest of the world.