By Jo Anne C. Heen

Presents. Who doesn't love getting them? December through January is the main gift-giving season throughout the world. Who brings these gifts? It's Santa, right? Not always. In other parts of the world, the gift giver is a broomstick-riding witch, or a gnome-like creature that looks like a goat. Even the Devil himself is a gift giver! Of course, in some cultures, presents are brought by the original gift givers: the three Wise Men. Epiphany, on January 6, is thought to be the day the three Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem, bearing gifts of gold,

Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet Photo courtesy Maggie Hos-McGrane.

In Italy, on January 6, the gifts come from La Befana, a broomstick-riding witch. When she comes to visit, she is often offered a plate of broccoli and spice sausage, plus a glass of wine. Santa's milk and cookies are beginning to look a bit stingy right now!

In one of the Christian legends, Befana was at home cleaning when the three Wise Men came through town and asked her to join them in their search for the newborn savior. Insisting she was too busy sweeping to leave, she later had a change of heart and, with a bag of gifts, went in search of the Christ child. She wanders the earth, seeking out good children deserving of gifts.

In Norway, Julebukk brings the gifts on Christmas Eve. He is an elf or gnome-like creature who looks like a goat.

In many parts of Europe it is St. Nicholas who brings gifts, but he does so on December 6, his feast day. In the Netherlands, he is called Sinterklaas. He has a helper known as Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter. Some legends suggest that Black Peter is the Devil, conquered by the saint. He is made to climb down chimneys, through fire, to leave the gifts. Another legend makes Black Peter a Moor from North Africa.

Photo courtesy of The Coca-Cola Company®.

The Dutch brought Sinterklaas to the New World, where the name eventually evolved into Santa Claus. Santa brings gifts on December 24, Christmas Eve. The American image of Santa, that of a fat man with a white beard, has been attributed to artist Thomas Nast, whose first Santa illustration appeared on the cover of Harper's Weekly on January 3, 1863. In 1927, Louis Prang, a Boston printer, introduced Christmas cards to America, featuring a red-suited Santa carrying a sack of toys. In 1931, artist Haddon Sundblom created the modern image of Santa when he was commissioned by The Coca-Cola Company to do some holiday advertising artwork. This became the most popular image in America, and is known throughout the world.

Mrs. Claus came on the scene in 1889. She first appeared in a book entitled "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride," by Catherine Lee Bates. (Goody is a contraction for "Goodwife.") James Edgar, owner of the Boston Store in Brocton, Massachusetts, introduced the department store Santa Claus in 1890. The first African American Santa appeared in a magazine ad for Royal Baking Powder, in 1910. Due to the different time zones and the rotation of the Earth, Santa Claus actually has 31 hours to complete his work, providing he travels East to West.