<P> Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop's attire, accompanied by helpers, inquiring about the behaviour of children during the past year before deciding whether they deserved a gift or not . By the 13th century, Saint Nicholas was well known in the Netherlands, and the practice of gift - giving in his name spread to other parts of central and southern Europe . At the Reformation in 16th--17th - century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, corrupted in English to Kris Kringle, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve . </P> <P> The modern popular image of Santa Claus, however, was created in the United States, and in particular in New York . The transformation was accomplished with the aid of notable contributors including Washington Irving and the German - American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840--1902). Following the American Revolutionary War, some of the inhabitants of New York City sought out symbols of the city's non-English past . New York had originally been established as the Dutch colonial town of New Amsterdam and the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition was reinvented as Saint Nicholas . </P> <P> In 1809, the New - York Historical Society convened and retroactively named Sancte Claus the patron saint of Nieuw Amsterdam, the Dutch name for New York City . At his first American appearance in 1810, Santa Claus was drawn in bishops' robes . However, as new artists took over, Santa Claus developed more secular attire . Nast drew a new image of "Santa Claus" annually, beginning in 1863 . By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the modern vision of the figure, perhaps based on the English figure of Father Christmas . The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s and continues through the present day . </P> <P> Father Christmas, a jolly, stout, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character . He is first recorded in early 17th century England, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness rather than the bringing of gifts . In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa . The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image . In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany . It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way . Now, she brings gifts to all children . In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter . In other versions, elves make the toys . His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus . </P>

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