Santa Claus does magical things every Christmas, like flying all over the world and fitting down a chimney, not to mention surviving at the North Pole. The real historical figure he's based on, Nicholas, the 4th century Bishop of Myra in Turkey, is also credited with many miracles, although his were not appropriate fodder for children's bedtime stories. People apparently treated each other terribly back then.
We know little about the historical Nicholas. There are no contemporary accounts, and he left no writing. But he had a reputation as a generous man, giving away his inherited wealth, and for standing up for common people. Centuries after his death, stories were circulated about St. Nicholas, which have evolved over time. One of them involves a butcher who chopped up three little boys and stored their remains in a tub of brine. Nicholas arrived seven years later and brought the boys back to life. Even if a person's faith made them believe in the miracle, the crime itself makes no sense at all. It's a horrifying tale, but the boys' rescue is the kind of thing Nicholas would do. Read about that one and seven other rather gruesome miracle stories attributed to St. Nicholas at Mental Floss.
(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)
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