He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. Nicholas was known 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. Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in the region of Lycia in the Roman Empire, today in Turkey.  This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books, family Christmas traditions, films, and advertising. Caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast also played a role in the creation of Santa's image. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of the 1823 poem ' A Visit from St. He is commonly portrayed as laughing in a way that sounds like 'ho ho ho'. Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white- bearded man, often with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, red hat with white fur, and black leather belt and boots, carrying a bag full of gifts for children. The modern character of Santa is based on folklore traditions surrounding Saint Nicholas, the English figure of Father Christmas and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas. He supposedly accomplishes this with the aid of Christmas elves, who make the toys in his workshop, often said to be at the North Pole, and flying reindeer who pull his sleigh through the air. Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary character originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve of toys and candy or coal or nothing, depending on whether they are 'naughty or nice'. Santa Claus portrayed by Jonathan Meath in 2010

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While completing Manon Lescaut, Puccini began a fruitful collaboration with librettists Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, with whom he wrote arguably his three greatest operas: La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900) and Madama Butterfly (1904). His second opera, Edgar (1889) was a failure, but he scored a major triumph with Manon Lescaut (1893), his first mature work.  Puccini wrote his first opera, the one-act Le villi, for the Sonzogno Competition though rejected by the judges, its successful 1884 premiere led Giulio Ricordi to take Puccini on. In 1880 he moved to Milan to study at the Milan Conservatory and while a student attended many performances at La Scala. Puccini was born in Lucca to a family of church musicians. His operas are famed worldwide for the drama and pathos of their plots, for their wonderful melodies and for the wealth of great roles they provide singers.  Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) is one of opera’s most popular composers.

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