The character of Santa Claus is generally considered to be a merging together of St. Nicholas who lived in the 4th century, 'SinterKlaas' - brought to the US by early Dutch settlers, and the English green-robed 'Father Christmas' who dates back to around the 1600s. By the 1800s Santa Claus had been popularised largely by the Clement Moore poem ''Twas the night before Christmas', but it was during the 1920s that the truly modern Santa was created. The story of the reindeer pulling Santa in a sleigh with a sack of gifts began in the 1800s, also in the United States, and this has been a big part of Christmas celebrations ever since. If you're planning a big noticeable display this year, remember that these large Christmas decorations are very popular so make sure you get in early for the biggest choice of figurines, Christmas lights and other items.