San Closs and Chrissmass

Chrissmass is a holiday celebrated on every settled world within the Sectors. It marks the planets' single rotation about their star. Because of this, the holiday lands on different days for each planet; even planets within the same solar system will have a different date for Chrissmass.
The holiday, at it's core, is about giving thanks for what one has received, and passing on the excess "earnings" to those who are less fortunate. How this is expressed, however, varies from planet to planet. Some planets engage in world-wide charity, while others focus on gift giving to loved ones and friends. Most, but not all, also have government and commercial involvement, with shops and services closing for the day so as to allow their employees time to spend with their loved ones. Regardless of how a planet celebrates, one constant is the mythological figure of San Closs.
San Closs is a figure wrapped in mystery. Even social scientists aren't exactly certain of the figure's origin, but his importance in cultural development is quite clear. San Closs almost unilaterally takes the form of a chubby, jovial man clad in white with red accents. He is usually portrayed laughing, surrounded by planet-specific holiday iconography.
However, as adults know, San Closs is just a fictional entity. Parents tell their children stories revolving around the man and his charitable exploits (especially on the eve of Chrissmass proper.) They are taught that his charity is especially visited upon the helpful and forgiving, in hopes that for the following year the children act in such a manner. If a child has, his parents will leave a gift at the foot of their bed during the night of Chirssmass Eve.
Between adults, Chrissmass is an excuse to both shower their loved ones in gifts, and indulge in decadent behavior. Because of the prevalence of the figure, many adults like to envision themselves as some sort of emissary or avatar of San Closs. These people will over-indulge in the fantasy, allowing their charitable intentions to overflow. Others, however, are trapped in the mindset of being the gift receivers, eyeing the holiday with a rabid, materialistic hunger.