In this day in age there are two types of Christmas. The holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and the gift giving, commercialization of Christmas. This page of the website is about the latter type of Christmas.

Santa Claus is a fictional character who supposedly lives on the North Pole and every Christmas Eve flies around the world giving children gifts while flying around on reindeer. He gives the good children presents and the bad children coal. Santa Claus or "Father Christmas" has a long white beard and a red coat. He comes down the chimneys and gives them the presents. Children like to leave milk and cookies for "Santa.

Santa was actually based off a real person. St. Nicholas who lived in the 4th century A.D. in present day Turkey. He was a religious leader but he was very shy and wanted to give money to some poor people without them knowing it. He climbed into the chimney and dropped the money down. It landed in a stocking that a girl was drying by the fireplace and the money landed in there.

Today the "spirit" of giving is personified through Santa Claus.

Text, html, buttons and music: Dan K. Home button: Matt B.
Background and Banner: Matt B., Julian Middle School
Flash's: Justin C., Dan R.

Thanks to Ms. Barnstable

Bibliography
"The History of Christmas." Christmas On the Net. Studio Melizo. 12 Feb. 2006 <www.holidays.net/christmas/story.html>.

Staufer, Mariar H. "The Chronological History of The." The Christmas Archives. Christmas Archives. 19 Jan. 2006 <http://www.christmasarchives.com/trees.html>.

K, Dan. Personal interview. 20 Jan. 2006.