loved by millions throughout the world for his warmth and kindness. Indeed, his character seems to epitomize the true spirit of Christmas.

The name Santa Claus originated from the Dutch for St. Nicholas who was a special friend and protector of all children. December 6 is St. Nicholas' Day and was observed as the childrens' festival, on the eve of which, according to European legend, St. Nicholas is supposed to come riding from Spain with presents for all good children. St. Nicholas was in real life a bishop who lived in Turkey about 1500 years ago.

He was one of the first bishops of the Christian Church and was imprisoned by the Romans because of his faith.

The Dutch custom of putting presents in childrens' clogs, placed in the front of the fireplace still remains, though today the tradition has generally been amalgamated with Christmas itself. As well as leaving clogs for Santa to fill with presents, the children always left a carrot or a bundle of hay for his horse.

The early Dutch settlers in America took this tradition with them and English settlers also adopted it, but transferred its observence to Christmas Eve. The clog became a stocking (or for the greedier optimists, a pillow case) and Santa became the familiar white-haired, red-cloaked figure who rides from the North Pole in a sleigh drawn by reindeer and enters the house by way of the chimney.

It was only until the latter part of the 19th Century that this tradition was taken up in England and Santa Claus identified with Father Christmas. It was during the period that many of the popular Christmas rituals spread and became the fashion throughout Victorian England. Prior to this, Christmas trees, Christmas crackers, Christmas cards and Father Christmas were almost unheard of. However, there is little doubt that of all the customs associated with this great festival, none has proved to be more influential than dear old Santa Claus.

St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia but is probably best known for his kindness towards children for whom he is also the patron saint.

One old tale tells of when St. Nicholas gave gold to a poor father in order to save his three young daughters from poverty and shame. Another story tells of when St. Nicholas discovered the grim remains of three young lads who had been murdered and cut up into pieces by a wicked innkeeper. St. Nicholas is supposed to have brought them back to life by putting all the pieces together again.

Although most people now consider Santa Claus and Father Christmas to be one and the same person, they were in actual fact, two totally separate characters. The person we know as Father Christmas is closely connected with the old pagan religions. Before Christianity became wide-spread, the people of northern Europe believed in many gods and goddesses. One such god was called Odin. At the time of the winter solstice, he was believed to ride across the sky punishing the wicked and rewarding the good with gifts.

Another very old, mythical figure connected with winter time has been described in various different forms. Some have described him as a dwarf draped in a red cloak with a hood -- the colour red was almost certainly inspired by the bright red berries on the holly trees. Some have spoken of a tall figure with a snow white cloak and long white beard and a third version depicts a strange, but friendly figure in a green robe with a crown of holly and ivy on his head and a yule log strapped to his back. He brings with him a delicious sweet punch for all to drink.

Whether form this character took, everyone agrees that his purpose was to bring warmth and cheer at the coldest time of year. When Christianity came to Europe, they did not forget about Odin or these age-old characters and incorporated them into their Christmas celebrations.

Today, the bulky figure of Father Christmas is part and parcel of the festivities. His "Yo ho ho'' image is due to the work of a 19th Century American poet, Clement Clark Moore, who in his poem "A Visit From St.

Nicholas'' describes Father Christmas as "chubby and plump'' with cheeks "like roses'' and a "nose like a cherry'', arriving on a reindeer-drawn sleigh to cram presents into childrens' stockings, dangling eagerly from the chimney piece.

An illustrater called Thomas Nash was the first to portray the visual images of Father Christmas and his drawings soon developed into the now familiar fat figure in a belted red suite, sporting a fur hat sprigged with holly and mistletoe.

Now, the image of Father Christmas or Santa Claus as a white-bearded old gentleman in permanently etched in our minds and is undoubtedly the most famous and loved of all Christmas legends.

SPIKE STAFFORD.