THE ORIGIN OF SANTA CLAUS
Santa Claus wasn’t always a husky, omniscient gift-giver who circumnavigates the world once a year, propelled by flying caribou and backed by an army of friendly elves. Though the historical St. Nicholas had many of the same generous tendencies as our contemporary “King in the North,” he lacked a high-tech sleigh that could exceed the speed of light. To be exact, St. Nicholas was a renowned Bishop of Myra — an old Roman town near modern-day Demre, Turkey — way back around A.D. 300.
was known for his generosity. The most famous tale of his charity involved a poor man who could not afford a proper dowry to marry off his three daughters. In those days, this generally meant the daughters would remain unmarried, making it likely that they’d fall into prostitution. Wanting to help, but also wanting to spare the family embarrassment, St. Nicholas traveled to the house at night and threw three purses packed with gold coins through the window. After his death, St. Nicholas became a beloved patron saint, but during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, the respect that many Catholic saints received diminished, and his popularity dwindled across Europe. One area where he remained popular was the Netherlands. There, he lived on as “Sinterklaas,” a mythical figure who went house to house on the eve of St. Nicholas’s nameday, December 5, leaving treats and gifts for children. Sinterklaas traditionally wore red bishop’s clothes and employed elves, and he traveled with horses that could walk across rooftops. When the Dutch emigrated in droves to America during the 17th and 18th centuries, they brought this kindly icon to the new colonies. Over time, notably through Clement Moore’s 1822 poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and a famous 1930s depiction by Coca-Cola ad illustrator Haddon Sundblom, Santa evolved into the figure we see today.
Even before he became the bishop, St. Nicholas
WHO PAYS When You’re in an Accident?
Have you ever been in an accident? If not, you can only imagine the thoughts that race through your head an instant after it happens. You wonder if you’re okay, if the other person is okay, and, once the dust settles, who will pay for it all. Because you abide by the rules and have insurance, it makes sense that the other person does, too, right? Unfortunately, this is not the reality of all accidents. We’d like to believe that other people are responsible, too. But there are plenty of reasons someone chooses to drive uninsured or underinsured. We’ve seen many cases where the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover the victim’s losses. What can you do? If you’ve been injured in a car accident and someone else is at fault, you have a right to ask for compensation. Time is a priority in these cases. Not only will an attorney want to collect evidence to make your case, you also must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of the collision. Don’t wait to bring your case to an attorney. An attorney is helpful in this process because, after helping you file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they can guide you through the rest of the process to help you get the compensation you deserve. If your
claim is not settled, an attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the driver. If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, you deserve to be compensated. Contact us today.
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