This episode of Christmas Past is the third in a three-part series about Santa Claus,

and even though children love Santa, these episodes are not meant for them.

Grownups, please enjoy them on your own. Thanks.

In Acts 1 and 2 of our story, we met the historical St. Nicholas,

and then watched as his legend grew and changed as it spread across Europe.

By the 17th century, St. Nicholas celebrations had begun to move from early December to Christmas time in some cultures, and he went from being a protective saintly bishop to more of a secular figure who cared if children were naughty or nice.

Santa Claus really couldn't have happened without America.

And this final phase of his transformation is uniquely American, because it involves multiculturalism, innovation, media, and advertising.

And now for our third and final act, here comes Santa Claus.

I'm Brian Earle. This is Christmas passed.

When I said that Santa Claus couldn't have happened without America, I really meant New York in particular.

The people who bring it over to us are the Dutch who come to found New Amsterdam, which later

is going to be called New York. That's Bruce David Forbes again, a professor of religious studies

at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and the author of the book, Christmas, A Candid History.

I mean, the reason it doesn't come to us from other places is that the Puritans are people

who are quite anti-Catholic.

They don't really want anything to do with saints.

And even the Church of England is kind of hesitant about that, so that all the other

people who are coming across

aren't carrying a St. Nicholas tradition.

But the Dutch, it's almost like a glimmer of St. Nicholas,

came over to the colonies.

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