Is Santa Claus Greek?

[Psomiadis2]

Colombus was Greek. Just look at this link for more info:
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[pankration]

Grecoreport is an interesting site. Its writers are scholars, the research is thorough and the presentation could make any academic journal blush with shame. HOWEVER, it is a hardcore, Christian, xenophobic site that sometimes treads a fine line between fact and opinion. I read the site because they make many quality statements but some of the writers are almost fascists and they barely disguise their racism. I urge all readers to use the site but to not accept it blindly.
There is evidence that Columbus was Greek but it is NOT conclusive.

[gmellos]

well IMO St Nikolaos was Greek and Santa Claus is Nordic or Germanic!

[Nikoz78]

Yes, he was IN FACT Greek.
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ABOVE: A Byzantine fresco depicting St Nicholas

Wikipedia:

Early Christian origins

Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany) he is still portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. In 1087, the Italian city of Bari, wanting to enter the profitable pilgrimage industry of the times, mounted an expedition to locate the tomb of the Christian Saint and procure the remains. The reliquary of St. Nicholas was desecrated by Italian sailors and the spoils, including his relics, taken to Bari where they are kept to this day. A basilica was constructed the same year to store the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout, thus justifying the economic cost of the expedition. Saint Nicholas became claimed as a patron saint of many diverse groups, from archers and children to pawnbrokers. He is also the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow.

Influence of Germanic paganism and folklore

Numerous parallels have been drawn between Santa Claus and the figure of Odin, a major god amongst the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization. Since many of these elements are unrelated to Christianity, there are theories regarding the pagan origins of various customs of the holiday stemming from areas where the Germanic peoples were Christianized and retained elements of their indigenous traditions, surviving in various forms into modern depictions of Santa Claus.

[Prokomenos]

That is very interesting information Nikoz and thanks.