The Dutch are credited with creating the legend of our Christmas icon, Saint Nicholas. Though the reason they created this holiday legend is unknown what they did with it is unforgettable, they created someone for all of the little kids all around the world to look up to, a reason to be good during the years to get the presents they wanted in return for being good that year. 

The legend of Saint Nicholas was created back in December of 1773-1774 it was reported that groups of Dutch families in New York gathered to honor the anniversary of Nicholas’s death on this day after the creation of the legend. Saint Nicholas was reported to be a Greek, older male with a long white beard and a big stomach, showing him to be a fat jolly man; but why did the Dutch give him this look? The big red suit and hat weren’t always how Saint Nicholas looked, Saint Nicholas used to look like a famous singer, he looked similar to Elvis Presley. According to a man named Steve Wilkins reporting to “USA Today” Wilkins quotes “You have this transformation to the young Elvis skinny, to the old Elvis, then chubby Santa Claus.” throughout the years they changed his looks to be more joyful and fun for kids. The version of Santa Claus we have now is the 20’s remastered version of that they had in the 1770s. 

Saint Nicholas was and still is loved by parents and children alike and though not many people know why he was created in the first place. There is no solid response to that question but through random evidence found through other articles and searches was created by the Dutch to honor an old man in Dutch culture. The whole world now celebrates the day in many different ways all across the globe. Next time you think of Santa Claus, thank the Dutch and everyone else who pitched in to create the legend of the friendly chubby old man we all grew up loving.