Saint Nicholas replaced the older, traditional gift-givers, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle among others, says Kalman. The name Saint Nicholas was soon shortened to Santa Claus. Penne adds that the tradition of gift-giving grew rapidly with the popularity of Christmas. As the country continued to grow, so did the commercialization of the holiday. Be sure to look for the now famous poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas , in book form in the children s department.
Several copies are available for checkout.
If you are still shopping for the children in your life, be sure to consider books. Babies are both with curious minds and want to learn about their world. You can help by giving children of all ages reading opportunities-as gifts. It is never to late to get started helping them build their own personalized library collection at home. This site is also available through the Grand Island Public Library home page.