Who was the real historical figure behind Santa Claus? 

In this module, we will read the earliest biographical sources about fourth century bishop, St Nicholas of Myra, and explore Nicholas' historical context and examine the development of his legend. Together, we will examine Byzantine stories of Nicholas' benefaction and miracles, his role as patron saint of seafarers, students and merchants (among others), and how he came to embody the tradition of gift-giving in Christendom. A wonderful end-of-year treat!

Course Instructor: Dr. Julian Barr