People exchange gifts to remember the Three Wise Men (in Portuguese: Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar) who offered gifts to the child after his birth.
The Santa character was inspired by a Roman bishop from the fifth century, "St. Nicholas", which offered, on 6 December, donations in secret, to the daughters of a very poor man. Gradually this day merged with the Christmas period and was immortalised by a Coca Cola advertisement some decades ago featuring an iconic Santa Claus.
Merry Christmas to all and many gifts in your (little) shoe!!!!
