Before he was Santa Claus, he was simply Nicholas.
Follow along on the story of the man we know as Santa Claus, Nicholas of Myra. Before his sainthood, Nicholas was a young man stricken with tragedy. After losing his parents to illness as a teenager, he is sent to live on a farm with his uncle, where he learns the lessons of hard work and caring for the animals, including an unruly sow. As Christianity is still illegal in the Roman Empire, he must learn the scriptures' lessons by meeting in graveyards at midnight. Unsure of where his future lies, he believes he has received a sign from God to go to the town of Myra and join the Christian Temple, where he might find religious freedom.
Upon his arrival, the elder Alex had dreamt that Nicholas would save their church from the Roman Empire and name him their new Bishop. As Nicholas uses his inheritance to offer free food to those in need, the Romans are upon him. Imprisoned and tortured, Nicholas kept faithful even as his friends were dying around him and his wife was crucified. When Emperor Constantine orders all Christians released, Nicholas continues to spread the message that love, compassion, and generosity are the pillars on which all life stands. Assisting orphans and the disabled, Nicholas discovers there are good people who just wish to live in peace with everyone else.
His journeys would have him brave snow blizzards, wild storms on the sea, and the haunting of ghosts. Throughout his time on earth, he fought for the good of the people and attended the Council of Nicea, where Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire. His deeds of charity may have seemed small in his time, but his message would reach billions worldwide.