The legend of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, dates back to sometime around 280 A.D. when a monk named St Nicholas lived in Patara, near modern-day Turkey. St Nicholas was renowned for his generosity and kindness; he notoriously snuck down a chimney into the house of a poor man and his three daughters to fill their stockings with money for a dowry. His kind deads led to his establishment as the patron saint of children (and sailors).