This Victorian Santa Claus figurine stands 7 inches tall and is full of holiday cheer, with a kind face and a friendly smile. But instead of a bag of toys on his back, his bag is filled with flowers! He also has a walking staff with a pink rose atop it. This Victorian Santa has a light beige double breasted full length coat on, with his right leg stepping through. The pants leg is white with gold stripes running from the top of the light tan boot to inside the coat. His cap has a pink flower on the right side with a tassel hanging down from it. Santa is accompanied with a deer that has a flower garland draped around its body and a decorative harness. Select this link to view our Collectible Santa Claus Gifts.

The Life of St. Nicholas.
St. Nicholas was born in Asia Minor, a region that later became the nation of Turkey. Most scholars believe he was born around 280 AD and died around 343. He pursued a religious career and eventually became bishop of Myra, a town in Asia Minor now called Demre. Some believe that he attended the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. This important meeting of the leaders of the early Christian Church produced the Nicene Creed, a fundamental statement of the Christian faith. Other researchers point out that his name does not appear on the roster of those in attendance until the Middle Ages, when his cult was at the height of its popularity. Although next to nothing is known for certain about the saint’s life, many legends credit him with miraculous deeds. Select this link to view our Victorian Santa Claus Figurines.

St. Nicholas and the Three Maidens.
One of the oldest and most popular of the legends of St. Nicholas tells how young Nicholas saved three sisters. The sisters had reached the age at which young women marry. Unfortunately, their father could not provide any of them with a dowry. When Nicholas found out he took a small bag of gold to the family’s house after it got dark and threw it in an open window. Some say he threw it down the chimney. The father gratefully seized the gold and used it to pay for the dowry of the eldest girl. Nicholas provided dowries for the second and third daughters in the same fashion. The third time Nicholas pulled this trick the girl’s father was waiting for him. When the bag of gold came flying into the house he ran outside, discovered Nicholas and thanked him for his generosity. Nicholas asked the man not to tell others of his good deed.
Some believe this legend gave rise to several Christmas season customs, including the tradition whereby St. Nicholas distributes gifts on his feast day. In addition, the custom of putting out shoes or hanging stockings by the fireplace to receive the saint’s and later Santa’s, gifts might also have been inspired by this story. This legend achieved such widespread fame and popularity that the three bags of gold became an emblem of the saint. Sometimes artists simplified their images of the saint by depicting the bags of gold as three gold balls. Select this link to view our Unique Christmas Gifts.

St. Nicholas and the Three Students.
While some stories of St. Nicholas tell of good deeds the saint did during his lifetime, other tales recount the miracles he worked after his death. One of the most popular of these sprouted up in twelfth century France and describes how St. Nicholas aided three traveling students. While the students slept the innkeeper searched their bags and stole all their money. He then killed the sleeping students. The saint, outraged at this crime, restored the students to life. This story depicts Nicholas coming to the rescue of young people, which may explain why later traditions identified St. Nicholas as a bringer of gifts to children.
Many tales tell how the saint rescued sailors from storms at sea, returned the kidnapped, defended those falsely accused and fought against evil. All these tales circulated with greater frequency in southern and Eastern Europe. There, Christians recognized Nicholas first and foremost as the patron saint of seafarers. Belief in the saint’s concern for those at sea spread throughout Europe. Evidence of this can be found in the many churches in European port towns dedicated to the saint. Select this link to view our Collectible Santa Figurines.