Merry Christmas Eve

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. . . .

 
Just some things you might tell the kids or grand kids tonight or tomorrow...That Saint Nicholas really did exist but in the 4th century and his day is December 6th.  His identity had some issues during the Reformation where Kris Kringle started his ascent. Saint Nicholas is easy to make into Santa (Saint) Klaus - Clause (Nocholas).  Kris Kringle, on the otherhand, is something of a bastardization of Christ Kinderlein or the Christ Child and how the kid in the manger morphed into an overwieght guy in a red suit is something of a mystery...probably a melding of the jolly St. Nick of the poem and the origin of The Christkind who was  a sprite-like child, usually depicted with blond hair and angelic wings.... explaining his aerodynamics, sleigh or not.
 

How we got to this is interesting but not the issue.  The real deal should be that for at least a little bit we give to the least among us, freely and with some passion. Do that ok.
 
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."