Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas (lived 270—343 AD) was an early Christian bishop in Myra on the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor (today’s Türkiye). Little is known about him. Stories about his life include him rescuing three girls from being forced into prostitution by secretly tossing bags of gold through a window of their house so their father could pay their dowries. He was also said to work miracles. For example, calming a stormy sea and reassembling and resurrecting three boys who had been cut into pieces by an evil butcher. Nicholas was present at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 and is said to have slapped the heretic Arius. Nicolas eventually became known as Santa Claus, and his image was transformed into the character we know today by the Coca-Cola company depicting him wearing red and white because they are the brand’s colors.