How Did Santa Claus Evolve?

We all have images of what Santa Claus should look like. He’s a happy, round man with a long white beard and lots of little helpers. The image can be traced back to the 1820s and the poem, ``a visit from Saint Nicholas.''

Some years later, the newspaper artist Tomas Nast painted the first image of Santa Claus, drawing inspiration from Clement Moore's poem. Santa is also thought to have been derived from the Dutch Sinte Klaas (sihn'-tih klahs), who was brought to the new world by settlers. There is a Santa Claus who, as legend has it, lived in fourth-century Greece, bringing gold coins to anyone in need. And many European tales over the years have told of a father Christmas, a bearded old man who appears at yuletide and gives presents.