Dear Santa Claus

Last year I arranged for letters to my grandchildren using an Anglo-American company "A letter From Santa".
I was really surprised at the amount of detail included in the letters - the children couldn't understand how Santa knew so much about their house and their best friend. This year I have decided that they will get a phone call.
The company offers a number of options including gifts of teddy bears or chocolates as well as the letters and phone calls. They operate from both the US and the UK and will ship worldwide. There is a discount for more than one letter, great if you have a number of children.

Santa Claus, Father Christmas or St Nicholas, no matter what he is called, children all over the world believe in him. But where does the story originate from? Who is this kindly old man who somehow magically manages to deliver presents to children all in the space of one night.

Saint Nicholas ( Sinterklaas)
In  the Netherlands, Belgium and parts of France  the 5th December, St Nicholas Eve is the time for giving presents to children. St Nicolas was the deeply religious bishop of Myra in the 4th-century remembered for giving presents to the poor.
 St Nicolas is normally depicted as wearing a bishop's mitre and carrying a staff.  Unlike Santa Claus, with his flying reindeer, St Nicholas travels on a grey  horse.
Traditionally  children would put out their shoes in the evening and leave hay for the horse. As thanks St Nicholas, or his helper  Zwarte Piet, would throw candy down the chimney into the shoes. The following morning presents are given.

In 19th C America the familiar jolly Santa Claus appeared, based mainly in the drawings and cartoons of Thomas Nast. In England Father Christmas has be known to children since the 17thC .Although originally depicted wearing a long green cloak nowadays he is always dressed in red and apart from the name there is no difference from Santa Claus.

Unlike St Nicholas who travels by horse, Santa Claus or Father Christmas arrives on Christmas Eve travelling on a sleigh drawn by flying reindeer and Zwarte Piet has ben replaced by Santa's little elves.

Due to the influence of Hollywood films and the commercialism that has crept into Christmas, many of the traditions are blending into one another, with some people celebrating the feast of St Nicholas and again on the 25th December.
I don't think many children will object to that!