Around the year 310, Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in today's Turkey He used his own wealth to buy people out of slavery. He saved a lot of children in this way. After his death the Roman Catholic Church made him a saint. December 6th was Saint Nicholas Day and children were given gifts to remember his famed generosity. He was very popular and became a big hero, and lots of stories were told about him. In 1519 a protest movement split the Catholic Church into opposing sides. The "Protestants" as the opposite side became known, did not believe in Saints. But Saint Nicholas was such beloved person that they kept his memory alive by creating new characters based on him, like Father Christmas or Pere Noel When Dutch settlers first came to North America in the 1600's, they brought his legend with them. Incorrect pronunciation of Saint Nicholas changed his name to "Sinta Claes". 
In 1820 the first artist, writer Washington Irving, wrote a book of political satire that spoke of Sinta Claes, or Santa Claus. In his book Santa Claus flew in a wagon and handed out presents. 
Two years later another artist, Clement Moore, wrote the poem we call T'was The Night Before Christmas. He used the description of Santa in Irving's book and added new details, like Santa being an elf with a big belly. In 1881 artist Thomas Nast drew who he thought Moore was describing. He also drew Santa's map and listed the North Pole as his home. This version of Santa Claus remained until the 1920's when advertising got involved. 
Another artist Haddom Sundblom, worked for Coca-Cola. He drew Coke posters and advertisements. He decide that Santa wore red and did not look like an elf. Of course Santa also drank Coke in his drawings. The red velvet wearing, bigger than life Santa that Sundblom designed for for advertising 80 years ago is how we think of Santa Claus today. 
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