We all know Santas story by now. He was originally a bishop back in the day, and after he died he became known as saint Nicholas, or saint Nick for short. And even way back then, before Christmas became a major holiday, the anniversary of his death was a day to celebrate by giving out gifts. But most of us dont know that saint Nick actually had a bad rap for a while, and that is actually how he got all of the other names we know him by today.

During the time of great change in the Christian Church known as the Protestant Reformation, which occurred in the 1500s, the famous Martin Luther declared that all good Christians should stop celebrating saints. For the devout followers of Luther, that meant also stopping the celebration of saint Nick, no matter how fun the gift giving had become.

But of course, not all Christians stopped celebrating saint Nick, not even all of the Protestants. Instead of stopping the celebration, they crafted a plan to enjoy the saint Nick holiday in secret. This is when saint Nick became known in England as Father Christmas. In Germany, people referred to Santa as Christmas Man, and the Dutch created the name Sinterklass.

About this time, a large majority of Dutch settlers moved to New Amsterdam in Americawhat would later become New Yorkand brought their celebration of Sinterklass with him. Americans caught on to the idea, and tried to pronounce his name right. But instead, what came out was Santa Claus.

However, Santa Claus did not hit the big time until the author of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving, got wind of Santa Claus and promoted him the American press. This happened in the early 1800s, when Washington Irving wrote a story called the A History of New York, in which he went into great detail about a man called Sinterklass. This saint Nick was fat and short, wore a funny costume, and would travel around on the Eve of saint Nicolas on a horse.

The idea of jolly gift-giving man caught on in the American press. Another writer, the poet Clement Clark Moore, wrote a poem called A Visit from St. Nicolas, which is better known as, The Night Before Christmas. It was Moore who made saint Nick a jolly old elf who flies around the night in a magical sleigh powered by eight flying reindeer. We all know the names of those reindeer, right? Well, Moore also included them in his poem.

Americans would get their best images of Santa Claus in the magazines of the late 1800s, when the cartoonist Thomas Nast put out his own visions of saint Nick in Harpers Weekly. For Nast, Santa was a bigger man with a big fat belly, who wore a red suit lined with fur and a big leather belt. Nast also started drawing images of Santas workshop in the North Pole, and Santa using a list to keep track of his kids who were naughty and nice.

Of course, these are all the images of Santa that we use today in the newspapers, in cartoons, and on TV. Or should we say, perhaps, images of Sinterklass?

Randy Stocklin is the co-owner of Mail from Santa Claus. Mail from Santa Claus offers memorable letters from Santa Claus that helps keep the Christmas spirit alive. For more information about Mail from Santa Claus and to purchase letters from Santa Claus please visit http://www.mailfromsantaclaus.com/.

There are mobile phones, and then there are mobile phones! There are some communication devices that wonderfully (!) peek out of the feisty grip of its owner ...and remain to be accepted as a hand-held communication device that are too happy to be. Well, wireless. And then there are some that are more than wireless phones around. They are the mobile pieces of art that bedazzle their onlooker either by their intricate designing or by manifestation of stylish and polished exterior with an astoundingly powerful feature packed interior. LG is the maker of mobile phones that populate the group of mobile phones of the later category.

Can we ignore the gorgeous shine of a LG Shine, or poignant looks of a Prada; without letting the signs of extreme wonder unexpressed? No. And when in addition to the enticing beauty, these LG mobile phones come with highly functional feature-laced interface, poor souls enamoured by these state-of-the art devices stand no chance to escape.

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Known as the "Sunshine State", florida is a popular tourist destination, thanks in large part to its subtropical climate and its beautiful beaches.

Here are 10 must-see attractions when visiting florida:

1. Busch Gardens Africa (in Tampa): A 335-acre theme park with an African theme. The park is home to many animal exhibits as well as exciting thrill and family rides.

2. Cypress Gardens (in Winter Haven): Originally a botanical garden, and known for its water ski shows, Cypress Gardens is today a modern theme park.

3. Daytona usa (in Daytona Beach): Daytona Beach is well-known as the home of the famous Daytona 500 race. It is also home to Daytona usa, a motorsports attraction which incorporates an IMAX theater, a racing simulator and other racing and motorsports exhibits.

4. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (in Key West): The famous house at 907 Whitehead street where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote many of his classics. The area is still today home to the six-toed polydactyl cats descended from those of Hemingway's days.

5. Gatorland (in Orlando): A 110-acre alligator theme park and wildlife preserve.

6. Kennedy space Center (near Cape Canaveral): The Kennedy space Center has served as America's spaceport for the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. The center is home to a wonderful Visitor Complex with many exhibits, two IMAX theaters and offers bus tours around the complex.

7. Monkey Jungle (in Miami): Monkey Jungle is a 30 acre reserve that is home to about 400 primates of 30 species. Visitors walk through cage tunnels while the monkeys run free outside.

8. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (in Delray Beach): A center for Japanese arts and culture. It incorporates two museums as well as Japanese Gardens, and is also home to various Japanese festivals held at various times throughout each year.

9. Salvador Dali Museum (in St. Petersburg): A museum dedicated to the life and work of the famous surrealist artist. The museum is home to 7 masterwork paintings by Dali.

10. walt disney world Resort (in lake buena Vista just outside Orlando): walt Disney world is a massive complex of several theme and water parks, including the famous magic kingdom.

You can find out about all these attractions, and more at: http://www.vacation2usa.com/p1_state_florida_attractions.php

Or discover all 50 states, 800 towns & cities, and over 1,000 attractions! For more information about travel and vacations in the US, please visit: http://www.vacation2usa.com/

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