[Alex Murphy]

...the real St. Nicolas lived in Asia Minor during the 3rd century. More than a millennium later, in the 1600s, Dutch Catholics came up with the idea of a make-believe St. Nicolas who arrived by barge in Holland's canals, before riding a white horse to distribute gifts to those who deserved them.

'It was part of a counter-Reformation movement, to the consternation of Calvinists,' Grom said.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

It was part of a counter-Reformation movement, to the consternation of Calvinists, Grom said.

I've heard this, too.

Some say this was also the motivation for creating a macabre holiday out of Halloween on October 31, the same day Martin Luther begin the Reformation by tacking up the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg church door.