Santa Claus

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Dear All,

Why does the Western Church refer to St Nicholas as "santa", whereas we in Greece and Cyprus, and presumably elsewhere in the Orthodox Church, refer to St Basil (Agios Vasilis) bearing gifts?

In Christ
Byron

[Kosta]

Dear byron,
In greece and Cyprus gifts were originally opened on New years. Not Christmas. the cutting of the Vasilopita ( on new years which is also the saints name day) is a greek tradition which is a extrememly popular aspect of greek culture. Thus the fat jolly man wearing a red suit was marketed as st nick or santa clause every else but in greece he is Ayios Vasilis