This is the REAL historical SANTA Claus

I read this very same story of the origin of 'Santa' Nicholas (Nikkalaus) Claus (Klaus) when I was in grade school. Yes, it is a darker version of the historical Santa Claus. But this story comes from Europe with its typical darker European overtones of tragedy, drama, faith, endurance, and triumph of the best efforts of humankind over the suffering and tragedy that was normal to people's everyday lives. You won't be able to appreciate the written story, or this movie if you try to understand it in the mindframe of an American or a Canadian.

This is actually how Saint Nicholas is supposed to look, as opposed to our American corpulent, elderly Santa Claus. The true European Santa Claus is a man in his late middle-age, that is, his late forties to early fifties; is a big-boned, hefty, overweight - but not obese - man; with a long, straggly, grey beard; not the lush full white one we Americans expect. The red costume is almost the same, however, as well as the cloth bag full of classic, hand-made, wood and paint based toys.

I would actually like to see this healthier, more vigorous version of St. Nick during the holidays, but it's too late. Our American Santa Claus is too deeply-ingrained into our tradition. I can't see anyway to change that.