My older child has already been told about the secret of Santa, but now he wants to know how the tradition originated… any ideas?

How did the kindly Santa Claus become a roly-poly red-suited American symbol for merry holiday festivity and commercial activity? Well, it all started with the first Europeans to arrive in the New World who brought with them the concept of St. Nicholas. However, St. Nicholas had a difficult time during the 16th century Protestant Reformation which took a dim view of saints. Because the common people so loved St. Nicholas, he survived on the European continent as people continued to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth. After the American Revolution, New Yorkers remembered with pride the colony's nearly-forgotten Dutch roots. John Pintard, influential patriot and antiquarian, promoted St. Nicholas as patron saint of both society and city. On St. Nicholas Day in 1809, Washington Irving published the satirical fiction, Knickerbocker's History of New York, with numerous references to a jolly St. Nicholas character. This was not a saintly bishop, but rather an elfin Dutch burgher with a clay pipe. These delightful flights of imagination are the origin of the St. Nicholas legends: like that of St. Nicholas coming down chimneys to bring gifts. The New York Historical Society held its first St. Nicholas anniversary dinner on December 6, 1810 and the first American image of Nicholas was created for the occasion. Nicholas was shown in a gift-giving role with children's treats in stockings hanging at a fireplace. The jolly elf image received a particularly big boost in 1823, from a poem destined to become immensely popular, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," now better known as "The Night before Christmas."

When Christmas does roll around this year, consider honoring this tradition with a Christmas Gifts basket idea. As Santa Claus originated with the ritual of placing fruits and nuts by the hearth, why not send a gift basket as a symbol of this custom. A holiday gift basket set is the perfect gift for clients, colleagues, office parties, housewarmings or for any other occasion! Each and every gourmet Christmas basket is filled with the finest products offered in the gourmet industry. If you have a certain design in mind, they offer custom wrap for holiday gift baskets to fit any holiday or theme.