We all know Santa Claus and enjoy his presents. However, who knows his origins and his relationship with Saint Nicholas of Myra? Why is Christmas celebrated so close to the winter solstice? What is in common between Yule bonfires in Scandinavia, the Krampus monsters of Austria, Boubousiaria carnivals in Greece’s Western Macedonia, and India’s Lohri fires? Winter solstice celebrations are very old and cover a wide arc of countries, from Scotland and Scandinavia to Southeastern Europe, Iran and India festivities. In Orthodox countries such as Greece, the core festivities or Dodecameron last for …