Nicholas was dedicated to helping the poor throughout his life, famously (and anonymously) paying for the dowries of impoverished girls. His reputation as a secret gift-giver around town grew with time, and he became known especially for depositing coins or treats in the shoes of children who would place them out for that very purpose, sometimes in exchange for carrots or hay left for his horses. Nicholas is traditionally depicted wearing a red bishop's cloak, and was often helped by a small orphan boy, according to some legends.
DISCLAIMER - this video contains some language which could offend, but only because G.W. was such a BAMF that there's no other way to describe him.
Having a deeper knowledge of history than the average person won't necessarily make you smarter or more successful in life than anyone else, but it will enrich your ability to understand some pretty kickass history memes. History memes are technically educational and boy do they go down smooth.