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How did St. Nicholas get the name Santa Claus?

Question #150372. Asked by BigTriviaDawg.
Last updated Dec 26 2023.
Originally posted Dec 23 2023 8:01 PM.

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psnz star
Answer has 2 votes
psnz star
4 year member
779 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
Saint Nicholas' shortened Dutch nickname was "Sinter Klaas." From there, it's a short stretch to "Santa Claus."

link https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/blogs/post/the-legend-of-santa-claus-part-1-the-origin-and-history-of-a-christmas-legend/

Dec 23 2023, 8:04 PM
wellenbrecher star
Answer has 0 votes
wellenbrecher star
19 year member
559 replies

Answer has 0 votes.
Dutch families brought the tradition of celebrating St. Nicholas to New Amsterdam in the American colonies as early as the 17th century. They called him Sinterklaas. This name became Santa Claus for the English-speaking majority of the early United States. The legend of a kindly old man was combined with old Nordic folk tales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good ones with gifts to create the pop cultural figure of Santa Claus.

link https://www.britannica.com/question/How-did-Saint-Nicholas-inspire-the-creation-of-Santa-Claus

Dec 26 2023, 2:32 PM
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