The reputation in USA today of the images and legend of Santa Claus can be traced to the poem, 'Twas the Night before Christmas, that was written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822. In this poem, Moore described St. Nicholas as a happy man who flew from house to house in a sleigh pulled by reins and waited for children to go to bed on Christmas Eve before he came down the chimney to deliver Christmas gifts for them.
The tradition of Santa Claus was brought to America however by Dutch colonists who established in New York City, which was called those times New Amsterdam. The real St. Nicholas is supposed to be a minor from the 4th Century with a big reputation for charity and kindness that gave rise to legends of many miracles that he performed for the poor and unhappy people.
The legend of St. Nicholas led to thousands of people being devoted to him. After the Reformation period however, extensive practice and worship of St. Nicholas disappeared in European countries that were Protestant, except in Holland where the legend of St. Nicholas continued until these days. St. Nicholas was identified as Sint Nikolaas but that was later corrupted to Sinter Klaas.
Dutch colonists took this tradition of Sinter Klaas to New York City where it was adopted using the name of Santa Claus. Above time, the Dutch legend of the benevolently saint was combined with old Nordic folkloric tales about a magician who punished badly behaved children and rewarded good ones with presents and gifts to give rise to the stories that now exist about Santa Claus.
The red and white-trimmed suit of Santa Claus is believed to be the colors that the original St. Nicholas wears because red and white were the colors of the robes worn by traditional bishops.
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