Originally Posted by TransWorld

Santa Claus was patterned after Saint Nicholas, a very real early Christian Bishop, who inherited wealth from his parents. He then, anonymously, threw bags of gold coins into open windows of families with poor children.

One story is of a poor family with three daughters. The father did not have enough money to provide dowry to marry off his daughters. Saint Nicholas secretly, during the night, left bags of gold coins at the home so the daughters could be married.

He was benevolent, and gave gifts secretly, under cover of night. Sound familiar?