Will the real Santa please stand up...

I like my Santa Clause collection. I have about 30 replicas of the jolly old guy. He is dressed in every manner of attire and style.
I started my collection a while back when a lady I clean for would bring out her collection each year. I had so much fun dusting them and adding to them I decided to start my own collection.

I can't say that I'm a big fan of Santa the fantasy of it all doesn't really appeal to me it's never felt right to tell your kids that Santa is coming with gifts when you are in the back room wrapping them.

There was a real St. Nicholas, he was the bishop of Myra. It's said that he was a religious fellow . He was famous for his generous gifts to the poor people in his village.
I like that part of the story. In Europe he was depicted with long flowing robes. Seems each country in Europe has their own interpretation of him.

So how did he get across the pond in a red suit with eight flying reindeer?
In 1821 a book called..A new-years present to little ones from five to twelve.. was written and it contained an anonymous poem describing an old man on a reindeer sleigh bringing presents to children.
Modern ideas of Santa became reality and stayed after the publication of the poem...A visit from St. Nicholas...we know it today as...The night before Christmas...

This one depicts him as round and plump, a jolly old elf. He is riding a sleigh that lands on the roof, and down the chimney he goes. It was in this poem that his reindeer were first named. He has evolved over the years, and today we have him living at the North Pole with a Mrs, and many elves. They make toys all year long.

Amazing isn't it how the myth of Santa Claus has grown into a huge industry and a story that we teach our children as truth.
I still like my Santa collection, at least when I look at them I know that they are not real:)