The real life and history of Saint Nicholas and the Christmas traditions that follow

Buck Sexton is joined by William Federer, author and former U.S. Congressional candidate, to converse on the history of Saint Nicholas and Christmas holiday traditions. William explains, "Saint Nicholas is the most popular Greek Orthodox saint."

In Greek Orthodox history, Saint Nicholas was born around 280 AD, which was during the Roman persecutions of the Christians.  He resided in Asia Minor or modern day Turkey. He was to believed to have inherited a great deal of money from his parents after they died.

"A movement had swept through the Church at the time, was if you really became a Christian you were expected to give away all your money and join a monastery," William explains. "So he gives his money to the poor but he wants to do it anonymously because he wants the credit to go to God." William further reveals how Nicholas would sneak into town and leave money for poor people.

William further tells that Thomas Nast, the creator of the Republican elephant and the Democrat mule was the first one to create the North Pole addition for Saint Nicholas. This was created during the Civil War as a jab at the South saying he belonged to the North.

"1930 Coca Cola hires an artist named Haddon Sundblom, was famous for his Quaker Oats man... and he does a painting of Saint Nicholas drinking Coca Cola... and that's what we have today," William informs.

To see more from Buck, visit his channel on TheBlaze and listen live to "The Buck Sexton Show" weekdays 12–3pm ET, only on TheBlaze Radio Network.