圣诞节就要来了，它虽然不是我们的传统节日，但却意外地受人追捧。除了各种聚会，最让人期待的就是圣诞礼物啦~

　　说到礼物，就不能不提圣诞老人。这位白胡子老爷爷可以说是世界范围内的受欢迎，尤其是在小孩子群体中。

　　不过，圣诞老人老了送圣诞礼物，那年轻时是什么职业呢?

　　圣诞老人被称为Santa Claus或Father Christmas，他普遍被认为是基督教的圣人圣·尼古拉斯(Saint Nicholas)的衍生形象。

　　Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved children on Christmas Eve (24 December) and the early morning hours of Christmas Day (25 December).

　　尼古拉斯是一位4世纪生活在米拉城(今土耳其)的好心主教，他被认为是给人悄悄赠送礼物的圣徒。荷兰人在圣尼古拉斯节(12月5日)便会模仿他送礼物。

　　Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Empire, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor.

　　他从年轻时就全力投身于基督教的宗教活动，后成为米拉城的主教。据说他本人还曾是一名水手或渔夫，但其他记载则认为他出生于相当富有的家庭，所以更可能是他的家族所拥有的产业包括捕鱼业。

　　He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity.