Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus???
Saint Nicholas was the “gift-giver” I was familiar with as a child. He had a white beard, was dressed in bishop’s garbs, carried a crozier, and arrived on a white horse. On December 6th, he visited well-behaved children and placed candy and cookies under their pillows. If you were really good, then he would drop off more goodies on Christmas Eve. You were expected to know your Catechism, in case he decided to quiz you, before leaving you a gift. We recited prayers and songs dedicated to St. Nicholas, rather than leaving milk and cookies for him.