Little is known about of Nicholas' life but he is believed to have been bishop of Myra in Lycia and his remains taken to Bari in SE Italy in 1087. He became the subject of many legends and is the patron Saint of Children. His legendary gifts of gold to poor children led to the custom of giving gifts to children on the eve of his feast day, 6 December, still observed in some countries such as the Netherlands but elsewhere this custom has been transferred to Christmas day.

In Armenian, Santa Clause is Gaghant Baba and he brings presents to all the good girls and boys.

In Austria, children get presents from Christkindl, the Christ Child on the 24th of December.

In Belgium he is called 'Saint Nicholas' and he brings presents to children on December 6th, 'St. Nicholas Day'.

In Brazil and Peru, he's called Papai Noel.

In Bulgaria they call him Diado Coleda.

In China, he is called Shengdan Laoren.

In Croatia, he is called Bozicnjak.

In Denmark Santa is known as Julemanden and he arrives in a sleigh pulled by reindeer with a sack full of gifts. Danish children know the elves as Juul Nisse, and believe that they live in the attics of their homes. Instead of cookies and glasses of milk, they leave rice pudding and saucers of milk out for them. 

In El Salvador, for some families Santa Claus brings gifts on Christmas Eve to those children who are well behaved. People get together with the family, children go to bed and find a gift on December 25th.

In England his name is Father Christmas. He looks much like Santa Claus, but he has a longer coat and a longer beard. He is shown with holly, ivy or mistletoe. He is sometimes portrayed wearing a leather coat (brown, scarlet or green) trimmed in fox or dark mink, and a garland of holly on his head. He always has an urn of wassall (hot cider punch) and a Yule log for burning all night on Christmas Eve. He brings toys for good children and "switches" for the unruly ones. Sometimes he carries a lantern to light his way through the cold dark woods, and he is never without a Christmas tree. He is also known as "Father Time" and then he wears either a scarlet or white cloak with a hood trimmed in holly. He carries an evergreen tree (representing eternal life), a clock and a bird (representing time flying), and a basket of food to remind us to "eat, drink and be merry..." Instead of mailing out their Christmas list, children throw it into the fireplace and Father Christmas reads the smoke. England is also where the tradition of hanging stockings by the chimney began, believed to be because Father Christmas once accidentally dropped some gold coins on his way down the chimney which got caught in a dry stocking.

In Estonia he is called Jouluvana.

In France Santa is known as Pere Noël and he comes with gifts December 25th. In some regions in France, mostly in Lorraine and in Alsace, Saint Nicholas and Père Fouettard (or Hans Trapp) come with sweets to the children who has been good. The children put a shoe outside the door before they go to bed at December 5th and they hope to find some sweets in it in the morning. Père Fouettard who keep track of who has been good or bad for Saint Nicholas.

In Finland, he is called Joulupukki and his home is in Lapland in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturl. Also in Finland, the Swedish-speaking Finns (finlandssvenskar) call him Julgubben.

In Germany, Father Christmas can also be called der Weihnachtsmann which in English means Christmas man and he is a helper of the Christkind (Christ Child).

In Greece, Santa Claus is called "Aghios Vassilis" and he comes on the night of 31st December leaving the presents under the tree for the children to find them on New Year's Day.

In Hawaii, Santa Claus is known as Kanakaloka.

In Hong Kong they call him Sing dan lo ian in Cantonese.

Karacsony Apo, is Santa in Hungarian.

In Ireland he is called Santa Claus and children abbreviate this to just Santy.

In Italy, he is called Babbo Natale. Also, they recieve their presents on January 6th from the gift bringer an old lady called Befana.

In Latvia Santa Claus is called Ziemmassve'tku veci'tis.

In Lithuania Santa Claus is called Kaledu Senis.

In the Netherlands, he is called Kerstman. He flies through the sky with his reindeers and puts gifts under the Christmas tree on the 25th of December. De Kerstman lives in Finland. His counterpart "Sinterklaas" is another saint, who is celebrated on the 5th of December. Sinterklaas comes back every year from his home in Spain by steamboat, together with him are a whole group of "zwarte pieten" who help him while he's riding on the roofs - distributing gifts through the chimney.

Saint Nicholas came to North America with the families of French fur traders who trapped in Canada and shipped furs down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. Soon the Cajun French were calling him Papa Noel, which means Father Christmas. He usually wears a cream colored coat and furs and always carries a "crèche" (manger scene) and other religious symbols. He does not bring toys, but provides plenty of firewood for warmth through the Holy Night. Many bonfires are built to honor him on Christmas Eve.

In Norway Julenissen arrives on the evening of the 24th.

In Poland, Santa is "Gwiazdor" ("star man") for the North Star. He visits children on Christmas Eve, bringing presents. The Christmas Eve meal begins once the first star is seen. "Swiety Mikolaj" (Saint Nicholas) was a cardinal in the Catholic Church, he visits children on December 6th and he brings presents, mostly sweets, which he leaves in children clean (it is very important) shoes.

In Portugal Santa Claus is known as Pai Natal. He brings presents on Christmas Eve. However, the portuguese tradition says the presents in that night are brought by the Newborn Jesus "Menino Jesus".

In Romania, Santa Claus is Mos Craciun and he comes on the night of the 24th of December bringing presents. Also, the night of the 5th of December is Mos Nicolae (St. Nicholas) puts candies in the good children boots or a stick in the bad ones.

In Russia, Grandfather Frost and Babushka bring all the people presents. Their Christmas season lasts a full twelve days, to commemorate the time between Jesus' birth and his baptism. They hang apples and tangerines on the tree along with little dolls made of dried fruit and candy. Grandfather Frost wears a red coat and a hat trimmed in white fur.

In Slovenia they call him Bozicek.

The Swedish people call Santa Tomte, and see him as a gnome who comes out from under the floor of the house or barn carrying his sack of gifts for them.

In the country Uruguay he is called Papa Noel.

In Urdu he is called Baba Christmass.

In the early USA his name was "Kris Kringle". Later, Dutch settlers in the USA took the old stories of St. Nicholas with them and Kris Kringle became "Sinter Klass" or as we now say "Santa Claus". Ever since then he has remained the patron of the gift-giving festivity of Christmas.

In Wales, Santa is called Sion Corn - this translates as "Chimney John" relating to the story that Santa comes down the chimney of each house to bring his gifts to the children within.

The name for Santa in Yugoslavia is Deda Mraz.

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