st. nicholas, too. >> and then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each littlef. as i drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney st. nicholas came with a bound. >> he was dressed all in fur are from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. >> a bundle of toys he had flung on his back and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. his eyes, how they twinkled. his dimples how merry. his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. >> his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. >> the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. >> he had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. he was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself. >> a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know i had nothing to dread. >> he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned wit

st. nicholas was santa's inspiration. since he was a true man of the world, we asked our chief foreign correspondent richard engel to bring us this christmas story. >> merry christmas! >> reporter: everybody knows santa's real name is st. nick, but you may be surprised to learn the real st. nicholas was born here in what is now a town in southern turkey almost 1,800 years ago. his statue still stands in the center of town, where he served as bishop and acted like a saint. his present-day of st. nicholas in every greek orthodox church? >> yes. >> reporter: old st. nick is nothing like the santa we know. the bishop says, and they would be even more fun if i was a child and had gifts coming my way. so how did st. nicholas go from a real-life christian saint to a fairy tale figure from a greek orthodox bishop to a toymaker with a staff of elves and a team of flying reindeer? well, much of that happened in america. the 19th century poem "'twas the night before christmas" describes st. nick as jolly and plump, flying in a sleig

st. nicholas, too.n, in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. as i drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney st. nicholas came with a bound. he was dressed in fur from his head to his foot. his clothes were all the fashion. he had a bag of toys flung over his back. he looked like a peddler opening his pack. his eyes have a twinkle. his dimples, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a gem. and his mouth was drawn up like a bow. the beard on his chin white as the snow. and a circle of smoke around his head like a wreath. he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. he was chubby and a right jolly old elf. i laughed when i saw him, in spite of myself. a twist of his head and wink of his eye, soon gave me to know i had nothing to dread. he spoke not a word but went straight to his work, instilled the stockings and turned with a shirk and lay with his finger aside his nose and giving a nod, up the

st. nicholas, too.rd on the roof, the prances and pawing of eight little hoof. as i drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney st. nicholas came with a bound. ♪ he was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. a bundle of toys he had flung on his back and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. his eyes, how they twinkled. his dimples how merry. his cheeks were like roses. his nose like a cherry. his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow. and the beard on his chin was white as the snow. a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke encircled his head like a wreath. he had a broad base and a round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself. a wink of his eye and twist of his head, soon he gave me to know i had nothing to dread. he spoke not a word, but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. and laying his fi

st. nicholas in every greek orthodox church. >> yes, of course. >> reporter: but old st. nick is nothing like the santa we know. those stories are fun, the bishop says and they would be even more fun if i was a child and had gifts coming my way. so how did st. nicholas go from a real life christian saint to a fairy tale gig figure, from a greek orthodox bishop to a toy maker with a staff of elves and team of flying reindeer? much of that happened in america. the 19th century poem 'twas the night before christmas describes st. nick as jolly and plump, reindeer. cartoonist thomas nass came up with the familiar santa image and ads like this one from the '30s helped lock it in. of course, coca-cola has a bigger advertising budget than the greek orthodox church. do you try to tell meme when he see all of these little santas, that's not the guy, that has nothing to do with st. nick? >> exactly, he says, i've been doing that for 30 years now, but without much success, because it seems people like santa just the way he is now. richard engel, nbc news, istanbul. >>> bony snider as

st. nicholas too. and then in twankling i heard on the roof -- twink i heard on the roof as i drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney st. nicholas came with abound. [laughter] he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot his clothes were covered in ashes and soot a bundle of toys and he look --, it his eyes how they twinkle his nose like a cherry with the battered on his chin was as white as the snow. chin was as white as the snowe. that took when he laughed -- that shook when he laughed. like a bowl full of jelly. he was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and the last time i saw him the wink of his eye and twist of his head he spoke not a word went straight to his work and filled all the stockings and turned and lay his finger on side of his nose up the chimney he rose. he sprang to his sleigh and gave the team a whistle and merry christmas to all and ok, we're here. here's dad. mom. the twins. aunt alice... you didn't tell me aunt alice was coming. of course. don't forget g

st. nicholas." all these years later we know it christmas." here's charlie rose. >> reporter: it originates from the poem. reading the tale has become a timeless christmas tradition in homes across the country. so we thought we would try our hand at it. here's our very own "'twas the night before christmas." 'twas the night before christmas by clement clark moore. 'twas the night before christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a use. the stockings were hung by the chimney with care? hopes that st. nicholas soon would be there. the children were nestled all snug in their beds, when visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. and momma and her kerchief and brains for a long winter's nap. when without on the lawn arose such a clatter. i sprang to see what was the matter. i tore open the sutters and through up the sash. the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, gave a luster midday to objects b bow. when what do my wandering eyes did appear, but a miniature slei

st. nicholas." all these years later we know it as "'twas the night before here's charlie rose. >> reporter: the story was published and became a classic. but many people do not know today's conception of santa claus being a plump fellow comes from reading the poem. reading the tale has become a timeless christmas tradition in homes across the country. so we thought we would try our hand at it. here's our very own "'twas the night before christmas." 'twas the night before christmas by clement clark moore. 'twas the night before christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that st. nicholas soon would be there. the children were nestled all snug in their beds, when visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. me and my cap, just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter. i sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. away to the window i flew like a

st. nicholas in every greek orthodox church? >> yes. >> reporter: old st. nick is nothing like the santa we know. those stories are fun, the bishop says, and they would be even more fun if i was a child and had gifts coming highway. so how did st. nicholas go from a real-life christian saint to a fairy tale figure from a greek orthodox bishop to a toy make were a staff of elves and a team of flying reindeer? well, much of that the 19th century poem "'twas the night before christmas" describes st. nick as jolly as plump, flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. cartoonist thomas nast came up with the familiar santa image and ads like this helped block it in. coca-cola has a bigger advertising budget than the greek orthodox church. do you try and tell people when you see all of these little santas, that's not the guy. that has nothing to do with st. nick. >> exactly, he says. i've been doing that for 30 years now, but without much success. it seems people like santa just the way he is now. richard engel, nbc news, istanbul. >>> we like santa and now we like st.

st. nicholas came with a bound. he came down the chimney, which i personally think would have been a little hot, but he's saint nick and so, magic happens, but don't try that at home. i think trying that at home is a bad day. anyway, he was dressed all in fur -- fake fur. just saying. from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. the bundle of toys he flung up on his back, he looked like an old peddler just opening his pack. his eyes, ooh, they were twinkling, his dimples, how merry, his cheeks like roses, his nose like a cherry. and his beard of his chin was as and the stump of his pipe, well, he didn't actually have a pipe. the stump of his starbucks, he held in his teeth, and the coffee encircled has head like a wreath. he had a broad face and a round little belly and it shook when jelly. he was plus sized, plump, a right old elf, and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself. now i wasn't laughing at him. i was laughing with him. he was going, ho ho ho, so we were laughing t

st. nicholas came with a bound. he came down the chimney, which i personally think would have been a little hot, but he's saint nick and so, magic happens, but don't try that at home. i think trying that at home is a bad day. anyway, he was dressed all in fur -- fake fur. just saying. from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. the bundle of toys he flung up on his back, he looked like an old peddler just opening his pack. his eyes, ooh, they were twinkling, his dimples, how merry, his cheeks like roses, his nose like a cherry. and his beard of his chin was as white as snow. and the stump of his pipe, well, he didn't actually have a pipe.

st. nicholas." as "the night before christmas." >> not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. >> the stockings were hung by the chimney with care. >> in hopes that saints nick would soon be there. >> the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugarplumbs danced in their heads. >> we had just settled our brains for a long winner winters nap. >> gave the luster the midday to objects below. but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, with a little old driver, so lively and quick, i knew in a moment it must be st. nick. more rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "now, dasher! now, dancer! now, prancer and vixen! on, comet! on, cupid! on, donner and blitzen! to the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" as dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of

st. nicholas too. mrs. obama: then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. down the chimney saint nicholas came with a bound. miss piggy: he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. mrs. obama: a bundle of toys he had on his back. he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. his eyes how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry. is nose was like a cherry. miss piggy: his little mouth drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was white as the snow. mrs. obama: and the pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke encircled his head like a wreath. miss piggy: he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jell ri. he was chubby and plump, right jolly old elf and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself. mrs. obama: a wink of his eye nd a twist of his head still gave me to know i had nothing to dread. miss piggy: he spoke not a word, but went straight to h

st. nicholas too. and then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. as i drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney st. nicholas came with a bound. he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. a bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. his eyes, how they twinkled, his dimples how merry. his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. the stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. he was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and i laughed when i saw him in spite of myself. a wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon he gave me to know i had nothing to dread. he spoke not a word, but went straight to his work and f

st. nicholas came with a bound.he was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;a bundle of toys he had flung on his back,and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. his eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; the stump ofof pipe he held tight in his teeth,and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;he had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.he was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,and i laughed when i saw him, in spite of myself;a wink of his eye and a to know i had nothing to dread; he spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,and filled all the stockings; 3 then turned with a jerk,and laying his finger aside of his nose,and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;he sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. exclaim, ere he drove out of s

st. nicholas? richard engel explains, tonight >>> coming up on news 4 at 6:00, a place that helps the needy struck by vandals. >>> plus how the city is making it easier to help kids in the shelter system get to school. those stories and much more all new tonight at 6:00. >>> it's going to be a white christmas in the sierra nevada mountains. >> a pacific storm is dropping lots of snow there there, good news for skiers where totals are expected to reach a foot at the summit, but bad news for anyone trying to make it home for the holidays. >> the weather will dry out tomorrow, bringing temperatures into the 50s. how insane is it that we have to go that far just to show you we had to travel, what, 3,000 miles to see any. >> i'm getting a little jealous. just a little. >> most people don't realize, it's very hard for us to have a white christmas in this area. it's not typical for us to see a white christmas. either one, usually it's a little cold, but certainly not this warm as what we saw today. but a

st. nicholas begins with a different nick stealing the spotlight. university of iowa redshirt big ten freshman of the week. he scored 13 points, making five of his 10 field goal attempts, including going 3-of-5 from behind the arc. he had a career-high six blocked shots. hawkeyes knockoff drink on the road. -- excuse me, at wells fargo arena. the cyclones have to figure out what is next. isu suffered their first loss of the year at the hands of northern iowa on's -- on saturday. >> you don't want to think about or keep that that taste in your mouth. i'm definitely excited that we get a chance to go play another. >> to get out there again, i just to put our talent on display again on espn. the real deal. andy: iowa state falls to 11 this week. paris: there's a lot to do on a dairy farm. nobody's gonna do it for you. you have to get out there and do it yourself. bernie sanders is a well-known friend of family farms. bernie cannot be bought out by big money. bernie's opinion cannot be purchased. it's time for our next president to get in there, roll up

st. nicholas, in the you can see the origins of what he would become. an 1822 poem by a college professor was an early account of what we associate with santa's visit and in 1862 an illustrator named thomas nass drew pictures of the santa we recognize today with his beard, girth and note taking on who has been naughty and nice. it may have been hard to believe watching santa make his way toward a welcome in new england he wasn't so popular. the puritans were put off by pagan celebrations of santa they saw as sinful and the massachusetts legislature once levied a stiff fine for celebrating christmas, but times changed. queen victoria of england popularized the christmas tree and americans created the custom of sending christmas cards and the rest is history. santa has come a long way down through the centuries and to reindeer keep it up all night long without a rest? >> that's part of the magic, isn't it? >> five scillings you could have been fined for celebrating christmas. that was a lot of money. >> it was. >> if you let the kids stay up to watch, tha

st. nicholas day.t the town in 1947 and decided from that moment on they would re-create the original procession through town like they did during the war in 1944, and they ended up at the castle just like they did in 1944 and passed out candies and treats just like they did in 1944 to honor those soldiers. they continued this tradition to 30 years. >> to this very christmas even. >> we just had the 71st anniversary. >> american exceptionalism and how this is a true example. >> these soldiers, i think, represented the best of us. they didn't have to do this. they didn't expect anything from it. they wanted to do something nice for these kids and for this town. they handed out these treats, banded together, got their -- everything that they could get from home and things like that, just to make these kids happy that one day. >> it just so happened that the first time this tradition began in 1944, a jeep was going by with a couple of combat guys and they say what is st. nick hanging out -- they just deci

st. nicholas. doing this for 33 years, nearly 700,000 lights spread across two acres. it takes two months for tom and his family. >> that tree up there, my wife fell off that shed down there. she said what's broke? she didn't break nothing. >> so big now police direct traffic around his house, take a look at sky force 10. you can see it from i-95. denise did, coming home from a wake. >> it's very sad before christmas, him and his wife have been together 37 years. >> she insisted they stop for a dose of joy. >> this time of year with everything i think sometimes we forget we're so into giving big presents we forget about other people's feelings with all of the other stuff going on in the world, this is just beautiful. >> for tom, the holiday lights have an added meaning. worth the price of $4,000 electric bill. he says his parents can see them from heaven. >> that's my boy. that's what -- that's what they say. >> a warm holiday forecast you can bet this is a hot spot. it's on pryor road here in wilmingt wilmington. i would tell you the street number but you probably won