Kris Kringle

A Look At Kris Kringle

Every Christmas, children begin to dream of santa claus and the toys he brings, but the jolly old elf is known in many parts of the world as Kris Kringle. The Historical Kris Kringle was actually Saint Nicholas, and A Look at Kris Kringle reveals that he is more than just the santa we know from the north pole.


Most people know kris kringle as the giver of toys on Christmas day, but A Look at the History of Kris Kringle shows a lot more interesting facts about the man in the red suit. For example, lots of people don’t realize that the legend of Kris Kringle started in Greece in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas, a bishop who was known for placing presents in children’s shoes during the night. By the 1800s, the legend of Kris Kringle had moved to Germany and the United States, where he was also known as Belsnickle.

For someone looking for A Guide to Kris Kringle, they would be out of luck if the punishments for bad children weren’t included! Most histories tell that kris kringle put coal instead of presents in the children’s stockings, but some tell that if a child was naughty, Kris Kringle would chase them down and hit them with a rod!

The image of Kris Kringle that we all know became popular in the 19th century when Thomas Nast, a German-born cartoonist in New York City who recreated the Saint Nicholas of his youth. Santa Claus in a red suit with white trim became the image of the wonderful Christmas visitor, but in earlier times, Kris Kringle was dressed in a long coat that went all the way to the ground, something far more appropriate for the cold winters.

Today, Kris Kringle is still revered around the world as a bringer of joy and happiness to children. A New Look at Kris Kringle may tell us some interesting facts about his life, but it doesn’t change the spirit of Christmas that he brings every year. Remember to leave some cookies and milk by the fire this year for old Kris Kringle!