Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We hope you, your family, and your loved ones have a wonderful time together to close out this year. 

Welcome to the 20th episode of History Out of the Box! We're in the holiday spirit (we hope you are as well) and we decided it was time to discuss a man of legend, known for his generosity and love of children. His impact on the world is significant, even though his existence is shrouded in historical and theological mystery. 

Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop who lived in the 4th century in the town of Myra, in what would be considered modern-day Turkey. Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, lived in a very turbulent time when Rome was the ruling empire. Very little is known about his life, as none of his writings were preserved. His earliest historical mentions occurred in the 6th century, long after his death. What solidifies for most scholars that Saint Nicholas was real and not a myth, is that there are historical mentions of Saint Nicholas's tomb being a place you could visit around that time. However, historians are torn over how much of his life is a fact, and how much of it is a myth or extremely embellished. We may never know the definitive truth of his life; we only know the legacy left behind almost two thousand years later. 

Join Jen and Cam in episode 20 of History Out of the Box as they discuss the incredible life of Saint Nicholas, how his legacy inspired the story of Santa Claus, and ultimately, the beloved holiday that many of us celebrate every year. Whether you believe in Santa, celebrate Christmas, or none of the above, the impact that Saint Nicholas had, and still has, on modern society is fascinating, and we think you'll enjoy learning about it as much as we did! Thanks for tuning in, and once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

History Out of The Box strives to connect our listeners with the echoes of our collective past, discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly associated with famous historical figures.