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Santa Claus

A Guide to Santa Claus

Santa Claus is loved by children and many adults all over the world. He is a legend that spans the centuries with mystery and goodwill.

The origins of Santa Claus go back to Asia Minor, now Turkey, during the fourth century AD. Bishop Nicholas was a man whose rich parents died when he was young. He used his money to help people and was known for his generosity becoming patron saint of children, sea travelers and pawn brokers. Stocking became Xmas decorations because he saved a poor man’s three daughters by throwing a bag of gold down the chimney that was caught in stockings drying by the fire. The daughters had a dowry and could be married instead of sold into slavery. Even today some children in many countries celebrate the birth date of the saint on December 6th as Saint Nicholas Day. In some areas he rides in on a horse off a ship and gives gifts to good children. Children leave their shoes stuff with hay outside so that his horse will stop by and leave a present.

Legends abound of kindly individuals who rewarded good children during the holidays. A guide to Santa Claus throughout history would be remiss not to mention how the name Santa came to be. The Dutch brought the legend of Sinter Klass to the New World when they immigrated to New York City, then called New Amsterdam. He came to quiz children on their religious knowledge and they received a prize with a correct answer. They would had to deal with Krampus or Black Peter, who reprimanded those that did not learn their catechism. Sinter Klass was a magical being that the tyrannical Puritans could not banish.

The image of Santa Claus was further enhanced in 1809, by author Washington Irving when a description was published in a history book. In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem The Night Before Christmas and in the 1860s to the 1880s artist Thomas Nast illustrated the jolly man in Harper’s Magazine. In 1931 Coca-Cola advertisements contained a fat man with white beard that wore a red suit and in 1939 Montgomery Ward used a red nosed reindeer named Rudolph in its advertisements with a song about how he lead the team for Santa’s sled.