In Holland we're always somewhat early with Santa, that is to say with Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus will come later but has the same background. Saint Nicholas will celebrate his birthday December 5 while giving surprises, sweets and other gifts to all children. In the following weeks he usually will eat like hell in order to return again around Christmas with a fat belly and in slightly different guise, just like the Coca-Cola company had commissioned sometime in the twenties from Michigan illustrator Haddon Sundblom. His inspiration was the St. Nicholas character as known in western Europe. The poet Clement Clarke Moore already cobbled together Saint Nicholas and Christmas in 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'. More about the shift from early December to Christmas is to be found here. Having said all this we must say that Dutch kids just love the two festivals. And look at St. Nicholas and 'Christmas Man' (dutch for Santa...) as two totally different characters... No matter what we were proud to be invited by the staff of the old bishop to he bis chauffeur yesterday and drive him up to school.