Legend has it, Saint Nicholas dedicated all his life to helping mankind, especially children.

据说，圣·尼古拉斯终其一生致力于帮助人类，尤其是孩子。

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The truth is that like the Christmas story itself, the story of Saint Nicholas is a composite of history, myth, and legend.

事实上，跟圣诞节本身的故事一样，圣人尼古拉的故事，也是集历史、神话和传说于一身。

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The Dutch developed a custom by which children put out shoes which Saint Nicholas would fill with gifts when he came visiting.

荷兰人有一套自己的风俗，孩子们会将鞋子放在外面，圣诞老人到来时便会在里面装满礼品。

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Two of his names -- Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas -- both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago.

VOA: special.2009.12.20

Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas,St.Nick, Kris Kringle,Pelznickel.

VOA: special.2009.12.20

And so,to the Germans of Pennsylvania, Saint Nicholas or Pelznickel was a man dressed in fur who came once a year with gifts for good children.Soon, people began to feel that the love and kindness Pelznickel brought should be part of a celebration honoring the Christkindl, as the Germans called the Christ child.

VOA: special.2009.12.20

Then, about 200 men walk the route wearing half- to full-metre-tall paper bishop hats, lit from within by candles and cut with intricate, stained glass window-like designs featuring Saint Nicholas.

BBC: Strange Santa sightings in Switzerland