There's a French song about St. Nicholas that begins with a reference to his being the Patron of school kids. That goes well with his being the Patron of thieves & murderers...!!! I think that, at least up to 40 years ago, he was the character most associated with Christmas in France. In Quebec, we had Pere Noel, which means Father Christmas , who looked & acted exactly like jolly Santa Claus. I always thought Saint Nicholas looked creepy, kind of like a really cranky Gandalf...!!! "Happy Saint Nicholas Day" "Whatever qualities Tsar Nicholas I may have shown in his own kingly profession , it must be admitted that in his dealings with the Russian Muse he was at the worst a vicious bully, at the best a clown...!!!" Poet: Haim...!!! "Happy Saint Nicholas Day"