The Saint Behind Santa Claus: 5 Things to Know

The contemporary picture of Santa Claus is largely the byproduct of commercialization and advertisement tied to the history of Coca-Cola, Hollywood’s movie industry, Wal-Mart’s sales, shopping mall photo-ops, and the Internet. All though these images are worth having, they do not get us any closer to the historical reality of the man behind the myth–Christian saint Nicholas of Myra. Here are 5 things to know  about the fourth-century bishop who lived a life of faith, adventure and charity.—Adam C. English, author of The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The Life and Trials of Nicholas of Myra from Baylor University Press.